It’s the beginning of a new year and most of us are thinking about ways to eat less and lose weight. Sadly, there are millions of hungry children that desperately need to be fed. Amazon has stepped up to the plate to help feed children through the United Nations World Food Programme. When you purchase an exclusive FEED bag through Amazon, you will feed lunch to one child every day for a year! Since the children are fed through the school lunch program, families are encouraged to send their children to school so they benefit from education as well as nutrition.

Amazon has taken a bold and important step in teaching us about world hunger and making it easy for us to help. According to Amazon:

• Hunger and malnutrition are the #1 risk to global health, killing more people than AIDS, malaria, and TB combined
• Every 5 seconds a child dies because he or she is hungry
• In 2005 WFP fed 21.7 million children in 74 countries
• Research shows that free school lunches can increase attendance rates by 100% and boost academic performance

What is the Amazon FEED bag? It’s a very large tote bag that is reversible with burlap on one side and white canvas on the reverse side. Each side has large stenciled lettering that says FEED and is made to resemble the bags of food that are distributed to schools around the world. The bag has pockets on the cotton side to make it a convenient and practical tote. We bought one and were surprised by the large size and how well made it was. Our only reservation is that some of the ladies may not want to walk around with a burlap FEED bag since it also resembles livestock feed bags. However, it’s casual, roomy, practical, and it makes an important statement that will hopefully give others something to think about.

We’re all concentrating on our diets right now, and it’s so easy to become focused on our own appetites and meal plans. We can’t think of a better time to help feed the children. When we’re cutting back on restaurant food and unnecessary snacks to improve our own health, lets consider sending the money saved to worthwhile organizations such as the World Food Programme.

When you purchase the bag for $59, $20 goes to the WFP and pays for lunch for one child for an entire year. Visit Amazon for more information.

If you’d prefer to donate the entire $59 or any other dollar amount and bypass the bag, you can do so by visiting the WFP website.

With the holidays coming up, we’d probably all rather look less like Santa, and more like a cute elf. Preferably one without a muffin top and with a belly ring. If you’ve got a little more jiggle in the middle than you’d like, try out one of these hot new workouts that focus on the belly. Regardless of your style, you’ll find one that works for you. We were lucky to find two awesome workouts that couldn’t be more different, but give the same ab burning results.

CRUNCH has a scorching hot ‘Belly Butt and Thighs‘ workout from their Boot Camp series. This workout is a high velocity, super effective combo of cardio as well as muscle conditioning. The instructor, Teri Ann Krefting, is a very likable, as well as motivating, instructor. She’s not chatty, and she doesn’t tell cheesy jokes, which are ingredients for our favorite recipe of a repeat performance! This is one you can do over and over without having to dub the dialogue.

This is an approximately 41 minute workout that includes a warm up with refreshingly original moves, a post workout stretch, plus 4 boot camp workouts that last around 7 1/2 minutes each. Thighs and glutes are a major focus of the first three workouts. Ooooooh yeah, THIGHS. This is definitely a guarantee for spaghetti legs for newbies. a challenge for WATP lovers, and a solid workout for rainy day gym rats. If you are very overweight, have joint problems, or are just plain new at exercising, you can adapt to this workout with the low impact modifiers throughout the video.

CRUNCH Belly, Butt and Thighs Boot Camp has simple choreography, yet it is very fresh and fun. We weren’t blessed with rhythm, but we don’t need it for this workout. What we do need is a little floor space, and a towel to soak up all that sweat! This is definitely staying in the 3FC library.

For a complete 180, try Prevention Fitness Systems Better Belly Yoga. Instead of camouflage and techno music, we have Namaste, deep breathing and peaceful tunes. What a great way to sculpt the stomach area after a stressful day at work!

The instructor, Desiree Bartlett, is a natural in front of the camera. She leads us through 3 - 10 minute workouts, each one focused on a different part of the belly. This is also a multi dimensional DVD, with a beginner as well as an advanced modifier. The workout may be difficult for those with a very large belly or heavy legs, but with a little practice, strength will increase quickly.

We felt very trendy doing poses we were familiar with, such as Planks, Downward Facing Dog, Boat pose and Warrior pose, so we had to giggle when we got ‘windshield wipers’. Giggles turned to grunts, though, when we felt our abs getting the brunt of it! With the modifiers, this is also a great workout that will take each of us through our own quest for a Better Belly.

Are you tired of Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice dinners? We gave those up ages ago. They are usually boring, bland, and the quality has been questionable. Check out their ingredient panels and you’ll see what we mean! If you are looking for something better, we think we’ve found it. Seeds of Change offers a frozen dinner line that is certified organic, and has all natural ingredients that don’t require a food scientist to decipher. Best of all, they are extremely flavorful, filling, and still low in calories and fat!

We haven’t tried all of their varieties yet, but what we’ve tried so far have quickly become favorites. The Spinach Lasagna di Parma in particular is out of this world! It’s so cheesy and creamy and rich that you’ll never guess it only has 340 calories. It also has a whopping 20 grams of protein! Another favorite is the Spicy Yucatan Frijoles & Vegetables. This dish combines a variety of vegetables, rice, and tofu with exotic seasonings from the Yucatan for an unusual - and addicting - flavor combination.

If you like the convenience and portion control of frozen diet dinners, but are ready for something new, try Seeds of Change frozen dinners. You may have go to your local natural foods store or a Whole Foods to find them, but the variety and quality is worth the trip!

To learn more about their products and locate a store that carries them, visit www.seedsofchange.com today

The national guidelines call for 60 to 90 minutes of moderate exercise most days of week to lose weight and keep it off, and maintain good health. You work full time, have a family to care for, and dogs to feed. Who has time to exercise? The good news is that you don’t have to exercise for an hour at a time. It’s ok to break it up into smaller segments, as long as you get it done. Short, 10 minute workouts can be easy to slip in here and there, and a few new DVDs make it even easier. We looked at the 10 Minute Solution and Women’s Health Total Workout in TEN.

We tried the 10 Minute Solution Slim and Sculpt Pilates DVD, which came with a resistance band. Each workout on this DVD is designed to target specific parts of your body. 10 Minute Solution workouts are just that - 10 minute workouts, and there are usually 5 workouts on each DVD. Don’t get too excited, you can’t get in shape by exercising just 10 minutes a day. You’ll need to do a few of them, either all at once or spread out over the course of the day. They are equally effective either way. You can choose the workouts that target your specific needs, and do them in any order. We took the easy route and spread the workouts apart throughout the day.

The first thing we noticed with the 10 Minute Solution Slim and Sculpt Pilates DVD was that the workouts were easy to follow. The moves were fluid and gentle, and almost every move could be accomplished regardless of body size. Not many fitness DVDs can say that! The second thing we noticed was that each workout was over in the blink of an eye! It was fast, but it was effective and we could feel the burn. Using the resistance bands ensured that we could continue to use the DVD as our strength increased. Workouts included upper body pilates, lower body pilates, pilates for abs, total body pilates, and pilates for flexibility.

Next, we tried the 10 Minute Solution Dance it Off DVD, which also came with a resistance band. The workouts are a step up in intensity from the pilates workout above. However, they are still suitable for larger ladies as well as more fit chicks. Workouts include a sexy slim down, high energy fat burner, dancer’s abs, upper body tone up, and buns and thighs sculpt.

Find all 10 Minute Solution videos at Amazon.com

We also tried Women’s Health Total Workout in 10. This was definitely a higher intensity total body workout. It might not be the best workout for someone very overweight or out of shape. But if you crave something that challenges your body and still want to take advantage of a 10 minute workout, this DVD is for you. You’ll need a set of 3 pound weights to use for some of the movements, and a floor mat would also be handy. The DVD includes four 10 minute workouts including cardio blasts to burn fat, upper body training, lower body training, and flexibility and balance moves to firm abs. The instructor, Amy Dixon, is very enthusiastic and explains each step well. You can also follow along with Beth, who shows us lower impact versions of the same moves. Overall, we liked this DVD but did find it more challenging for our fitness level. Still, it’s just 10 minutes and will get you on your way to a fit body! You can view sample clips from this DVD on the Women’s Health website. Scroll down on that page and you’ll find a link to enter to win a copy of this DVD!

Find this and other Women’s Health fitness videos at Amazon.com

Not all dieters give up snack crackers or other nibbles while losing weight. 100-Calorie snack packs have become very popular among calorie counters, and include treats such as reduced fat Oreo cookies, potato chips, and cheese crackers. I’ll bet some of you pack them in your kid’s lunch bag so they have a healthier dessert. They can be a good way to have a controlled snack, but they still contain questionable ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated fats that make us cringe. We found an alternative that made us cluck!

Sisters Gwen Solberg and Debbie Reynolds, both are also moms, created a healthier organic snack cracker called Healthy Handfuls. They are designed for kids, but are perfect for you if you usually include this type of snack in your diet. They offer several varieties such as Cheddar Cheese Lucky Duckies, Lemon Vanilla Koala Crackers, and whole wheat Chocolate Chip Chimpies. The Lucky Duckies taste like Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish crackers, but they won’t leave your fingers slippery from fat. The Koala Crackers remind me of animal crackers, but taste lemony and lightly sweetened. You can taste the whole wheat goodness in the Chimpies!

The ingredients are organic and all natural. You won’t find corn syrup, preservatives, or artificial colors in them. They are available in regular boxes as well as individual bags that are portion controlled and just right to satisfy a craving. Each packet contains between 100 and 120 calories, depending on the variety. Portion control is very important to dieters, and so is avoiding junk food. An apple or some raw veggies and hummus would make a better snack. But if your diet plan incorporates chips and sweets, try Healthy Handfuls for a step up in quality that still satisfies. They were made for kids, but you’ll like them, too.

Learn more about Healthy Handfuls at their website www.healthyhandfuls.com.
You can buy them at Amazon at very low prices!

There’s been a buzz about Yoga Booty Ballet on our forum for a long time. Most of the members that have tried it say they found it addictive and own every DVD in the collection. We noticed that the members ranged in all sizes, so it sounded like a good option all around. The Yoga Booty Ballet program is led by two fitness experts, Gillian Marloth and Teigh McDonough. These two chicks are peppy, energetic, and look fantastic! They look like they are barely 30 years old, so we were surprised to learn they are over 40! We tried their latest DVD set, Goddess Abs and AM Latte.

A.M. Latte is designed to jump start your day. I’m not sure why I expected a soothing, stretching yoga routine - maybe because I’m used to lazy mornings, gently waking up over a real latte while my masseur begins to - OK, strike that. I usually start my day with coffee and email, and don’t have the energy to exercise until at least 11am. A.M. Latte turned out to be a very energetic workout that was fun way to start the day, whether at 7am or 11am! Everything about this workout was unexpected. The workout started out slow, and you can do it from your bed if you want. But don’t be fooled, you WILL get a workout. Some of it was downright silly at times, but in a fun way. I made faces and slapped myself all over! That part was easy, but then I was instructed to hop out of bed. It progressed into a fast dance routine that was a little tricky for my two left feet to follow at first, but I believe that with practice, even I can get the hang of it. Gillian and Teigh move through the entire routine fluidly, without stopping to instruct us along the way. I’d suggest watching the DVD first, then give it a shot and follow along.

Goddess Abs is a 20 minute workout that is challenging, but guaranteed to deliver! If you are very large or out of shape, you may have problems following along at first. Hang in there and do what you can, and you’ll eventually get those Goddess Abs! Once again, the Booty Gurus are full of happy energy and make the routine fun enough to encourage you to come back and try it again.

If you aren’t ready for this level of energy and endurance, you might try the Yoga Booty Ballet Light and Easy DVD which is great for beginners. Either way, it will be easy to see why this program is so popular! If you are interested in trying it, you can buy most of the DVDs from Amazon at a great price

Dining out can be very difficult if you want to enjoy a meal without feeling guilty afterwards. We recently tried the Grilled Salmon Salad from Panera Bread and were amazed by how good it was, especially for a low calorie meal!

The Grilled Salmon Salad consists of a variety of lettuce, topped with a large grilled and chilled salmon fillet, with red onions, wheat berries, green beans, roasted red bell peppers, and a Meyer lemon vinaigrette. They didn’t skimp on the salmon, or anything else. The wheat berries added a nice contrast in texture. The salad was large, delicious, and very filling. Every bite was flavorful, tangy, and satisfying. We still can’t stop clucking over how they managed to put so much delicious food on the plate for only 340 calories! You can choose to add a whole grain baguette on the side, or choose an apple, but of course you’ll need to add up the extra calories. If you prefer, you can order a half of a salmon salad for only 170 calories, and add a cup of a low calorie soup on the side. Either way, you can’t go wrong! It’s all guilt free

The details: 340 calories, 14 grams of mostly good fat, 32 total carbs, 6 grams fat, 23 grams protein, 820 mg sodium (drink plenty of water!)

Sometimes you want a little something sweet and a bowl of grapes isn’t going to cut it. You want cake, but you know you can’t stop at just one slice. Hostess has joined the “100 Calorie Pack” club and now offer tiny little cupcakes, complete with frosting, for just 100 calories per pack of 3 cakes. We gave them a try to find out if they were worth clucking about, or would cause us to squawk!

Hostess 100 Calorie Pack cupcakes are not for everyone. A lot of dieters count calories and allow themselves a small amount of sweet treats every now and then. Portion control is very important, so the Hostess cakes may just fit the bill. There are also plenty of dieters that scrutinize ingredient panels and carefully choose how they spend their calories.

The Hostess cakes do contain 100 calories per pack, and are also low in fat with just 3 grams per serving. The chocolate packs contain 5 grams of fiber, which was surprising. This brings their Weight Watchers point total to just 1 point! The vanilla and carrot cake varieties contain 3 grams of fiber, so they teeter the edge at 2 points. They are tasty, very sweet, and nicely portable for lunch boxes or office snack breaks. Don’t be misled by the picture, the cakes are about the size of quarters and you’ll probably get two bites per cake. We photographed them next to a regular size Penny’s muffin that contains 120 calories.

On the flip side, and this is where we squawk a little, the ingredient list wasn’t too impressive. The first ingredient is sugar, which may not be surprising for a cake. Close to the top of the list you’ll also find partially hydrogenated oils and/or beef fat as well as high fructose corn syrup. These items will cause a lot of you to cross Hostess cakes off your shopping list.

Everyone seems to offer a 100 calorie snack these days, and they can be a dieters dream - but only if you can stick to just one pack. If you eat more than one per day, then you quickly lose the benefit. Though the lure of just 100 calories may be just the nudge you need to buy this type of snack, make sure you read the ingredient label to be sure you know what you are getting. Stack it up against other snacks that contain the same amount of calories.

Suggestions: Cinnamon rice cakes spread with nonfat cream cheese; hummus and veggie sticks or even hummus with light wasa crackers; nuts; apple slices and peanut butter; a BIG bowl of berries; light microwave popcorn; a fresh summer salad.

Are you a Mindless Eater? If you’ve ever scraped the bottom of a large tub of popcorn, polished off a platter of pasta, or even grazed the grass of your kid’s Easter Basket for hidden treasure (yes - we know all the tricks), then you probably are a mindless eater! The book Mindless Eating has completely changed the way we look at overindulgence, and and it has taught us to be more conscious of what we put into our mouths. You can read our complete review, which we wrote for our friends at The Diet Channel.

We promise you’ll never look at a buffet the same again after reading this book. I’ll be honest - I fall asleep reading books all the time. They relax me and just lull me to sleep. But while reading this book, I saw a lot of my own habits exposed - which was exciting in a disturbingly fun sort of way, and I tore right through the book without as much of a yawn. This book will teach you what a diet can’t!

Taking it one step further

Dr Brian Wansink, the funny and brilliant doctor that authored the book, has started The Mindless Eating Challenge with his buddy Dr Collin Payne. They’ve started this challenge to go one step further and give you some interactive help with making better habits for good health and weight loss. I joined the challenge, and based on my survey answers, they gave me 3 changes to make in my life to help me reach that goal. These are not drastic changes. They are actually very simple, and it is surprising how much impact they will make on my weight loss if I stick with them. I checked in with the Challenge today and let them know how I did. I got instant feedback that if I continue on with last week’s habits, I’ll lose 13 pounds in a year with no other efforts. That was really surprising, because I didn’t even feel the changes!

Joining the Challenge is easy. Whether you read the book or not, you’ll benefit from the challenge. Fill out the survey. Each month. you’ll be given 3 changes to make in your life. The folks at the Challenge will email you to remind you to check in and update your progress. They’ll evaluate your response and keep you on track! Visit The Diet Channel to read all about it, and while you are there, sign up for one of their blogs and share your positive changes with other bloggers. This can truly make a painless change in your weight loss!

I never thought tripping over my own feet could be so much fun! I recently started using Zumba, a fitness DVD guaranteed to get you up and moving, and loving every step you take. If you’ve never heard of Zumba, imagine Latin style dance aerobics. Now imagine the fast, pumping music, the handsome men, the hips of Shakira - it’s all there! You’ll burn calories while sculpting your body. It’s fun and addictive!

The Zumba set includes 4 DVDs and an audio CD. The first DVD teaches you the steps to a variety of dances used throughout the Zumba series. You’ll learn to do the mambo, rumba, salsa, flamenco, and more! You don’t have to be a good dancer to get a workout from Zumba, but you’ll probably be a better dancer before you know it. It’s so much fun! The other DVDs include Power, Advanced, and one designed for Abs, Buns, and Thighs. The Power DVD includes a bonus section for kids. They do move pretty quickly, so novices may not be able to keep up at first. If I can get the hang of it then anyone can, so don’t give up!

This fitness DVD set is for everyone that hates traditional aerobic DVDs. It’s for everyone that loves to dance, or thinks they can’t dance. It’s for adults and kids. Zumba is fairly easy on the joints, unlike some other types of aerobics. Did I mention that it’s also fun?

You can also visit Zumba studios all over the country and take classes. We’ve heard that some classes stay so busy that people are routinely turned away. If you don’t have a class in your area, try the DVD set. You can purchase directly from Zumba for $49.95, or check eBay for good deals on new sets. When you visit the Zumba website, click to view the Zumba DVD preview and you can get a hint of what’s in store for you.

Have fun!