Small Tips for Big Weight Loss

Get Watered Down

A recent German study showed that drinking water burns calories. Drinking two cups of cold water- no warmer than 72 degrees- used roughly 25 calories. Drink a liter a day and you're talking five pounds a year.

Go Smaller

This is one of the best little secrets for big weight loss. Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Studies show that putting your portions on smaller dishes means you’ll end up eating less at a meal.

Small Tricks for Big Weight Loss

Drink More Milk

Milk does do a body good. Consuming 1,800 milligrams of calcium a day could block the absorption of about 80 calories. Fill your coffee mug with skim or 1 percent milk, drink it down to the level you want in your coffee, and then pour in your caffeine.

Buy Cut Veggies

They may cost more, but they'll pay off in the long run- you're much more likely to grab a palmful of veggies for snacking than other, less healthy food.

Small Tricks for Big Weight Loss

If you're watching what you eat and hoping to drop a few pounds or many, every calorie can count. The following tips and tricks may not seem like much, but they can actually have a huge effect. If you add up these small changes over time, they'll translate to a leaner, stronger you.

Blot.
Use a paper napkin to blot a teaspoon of fat off a pizza slice. At one slice a week, that's more than a whole cup of fat you won't eat this year.

Are Sore Muscles Cramping Your Style?

Here are some quick fixes to get you working out pain free:

• Stay hydrated- this will flush muscles of any lactic acid buildup (the root cause of evil soreness).
• Stretch, stretch, stretch. Then stretch some more. Short on time? Start your workout with an easy 5-minute routine.
• Go bananas- potassium helps balance the body's fluids and heal muscles more quickly (bonus: the carbs keep you fueled).
• Give it the cold shower- taking an arctic dip immediately after a workout will help decrease muscular inflammation.
• Don't be afraid to work it- a low intensity, light cardio workout for 20 to 40 minutes will get blood flowing, which combats soreness.

Need a memory boost?

Give yourself some short-tern help by:

• Paying attention: really listen to a name when being introduced. Repeat it out loud and make a comment about it (e.g. "Catherine, is that a C or a K?")

• Using linking tools: Attach new information to information you already know.

• Picturing it: Visualize a silly or strong image that you associate with someone (e.g. what animal does s/he remind you of?)

For help in the long-term:

• Make like a vegetarian: Blueberries, strawberries and anything green and leafy (especially spinach) contain brain-boosting compounds.

• Stress less: Exercise reduces stress hormones that can impair memory.

• Work your mind: Keep on your toes with brain power games like crosswords or sudoku.

Are "healthy" nail polishes really necessary?

There are three ingredients in nail polish you should avoid:

Formaldehyde
Used as a preservative in beauty products and known to cause itching and burning (and is classified as a possible carcinogen by the EPA). Countries like Japan and Sweden have banned it completely.

DBP
Or dibutyl phthalate, makes nail polish flexible and exposure to it has been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies.

Toluene
Used as a solvent, is a toxin particularly harmful to the nervous system.

All three of these ingredients score a 10 (the highest) in the skin toxicity database and are linked to cancer, as well as other health consequences. Luckily, there are many brands now available that offer all the pretty, without so much of the toxicity.

Beef and the connection to Global Warming

While we all have our reasons for working to reduce global warming, mine is a pretty selfish one. I like the earth we live on. For me there is no greater peace than a walk through the woods, hearing the wind rustle through the leaves and the birds chattering. It's for that reason that I make an effort to have a positive impact on our environment as much as I can. I also take issue with those people driving big old gas-guzzlers around; it’s not just their business what they drive, it’s mine, because I live on this earth too. But that’s besides the point.

One very interesting fact about greenhouse gasses is that beef releases it on a much greater scale than our vehicles do! Beef cattle contribute 18% of the greenhouse gas emissions, and that’s just the gas released from their digestive systems! That figure doesn't include the raising and transporting involved. Just two pounds of beef is the equivalent of driving for three hours while leaving all of the lights on back at home. Wow.

But don’t think you have to cut out beef all together to make a difference. If you’re really jonesin’ for some red meat, go organic. Organic beef raised on grass release 40% less emissions and use 85% less energy. Another option is to try a veggie burger. They are actually a really great tasting substitute for beef, and they're much better for you!