By Julie As my first month on the Feel Great Weight program wraps up I have a lot of things to reflect on. I have been doing well about keeping an “honest” food log and I’ll admit there is definitely room for improvement. Snacking and mindless tasting are still weak points even though I have done well with making healthy meal choices. Being aware of the habit is the first step, and I need to be more aware and do better in the coming months. Still, I have to remind myself that lifestyle changes don’t happen overnight and that I need to give myself credit for the positive steps I’ve taken and continue on. I did meet some of the goals Marissa and I set at the beginning of the month, like cutting down on pasta and bread, and controlling portion sizes. Oh, and serving enough veggies to take up half the plate (not always fun or easy). And this week I saw some good things happen with my workouts. Justo made one of the workouts a boxing session—that not only kicked my butt but was also a lot of fun. I felt like I was learning a new dance, and my mind had to race to both keep up with the steps as he called them out AND maintain good form. My entire torso was sore the next day, allowing me to get acquainted with some muscles I hadn’t known existed. The finale of the week was my second set of girth measurements, and I saw some improvement there—enough that a few snug clothing items now fit loosely (even though I haven’t seen much movement on the scale). Hooray! So what have I learned from the first month on the program? To be proud of what I have accomplished and recognize where I can improve. I didn’t set a lot of concrete goals for the first month since I didn’t know what to expect. Now that I’m a few weeks in I can see where I need to step things up. I definitely need to reign in on snacking and do more cardio during the week. My twice weekly 2-1/2 mile runs are not enough. and with family visiting I haven’t been on my bike in a few weeks. Over the next two weeks I have an even bigger challenge (and routine disruption): more family arriving from the UK and then…vacation! I’m trying to not be anxious about the “what if’s” and just be prepared and stay focused. Fingers crossed!

Skip deep-fried doughnuts and make these baked gluten-free doughnuts instead! FitSugar reader AllieNic posted this recipe in our Healthy Recipe group . Apple Cider Doughnuts (adapted from Mama Pea ) Learn how to make these baked doughnuts after the break!

This week we celebrated National Celiac Awareness Day , and our readers got into the action, too! Straight from our Healthy Recipe community group are a wide mix of great-tasting gluten-free recipes. Share your own recipes in our Healthy Recipe group – we may feature it on the homepage ! View Slideshow ›

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard doctors or other health authorities recommend that patients switch from white rice to brown rice. The idea is that brown rice has more nutrients and a lower impact on blood sugar than its paler counterpart. According to recent publications in the scientific literature, making such a Related posts: Red Yeast Rice and Cholesterol Better Baby Food Dental Health Matters Exercise Matters The Secret Lives of Dates

Something about Summer makes me think of country music and wearing jean short-shorts. It could be due to my Texan upbringing or the fact that I recently watched the Footloose trailer . While you’re toning your legs for the Fourth, let Trace Adkins, Eric Church, and Luke Bryan take you to a romanticized countryside, complete with bluebonnets, a warm breeze, and a hot cowboy (aka Dierks Bentley). You’ll feel like a sharpshooter when listening to sassy songs by independent women like Ashton Shepherd, Miranda Lambert, and Taylor Swift . So y’all, the next time you’re sporting them shorts, you’ll hear the fellows saying, “Bow chicka wow wow.” To see the full playlist, read more. 1) “Brown Chicken Brown Cow” – Trace Adkins 2) “Look It Up” – Ashton Shepherd 3) “Smoke a Little Smoke” – Eric Church 4) “Me and Charlie Talking” – Miranda Lambert 5) “Rain Is a Good Thing” – Luke Bryan 6) “Mean” – Taylor Swift 7) “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do” – Dierks Bentley “Dirt Road Anthem (remix) (featuring Ludacris)” – Jason Aldean

The basics: red wine sangria PopSugar City LA: Lauren Conrad’s favorite sushi, beauty salon, and neighborhood Toms debuts cool sunglasses that give the gift of sight Fun and frugal bachelorette party destinations 9 reasons you’re not losing weight Under-the-radar hotties: do, dump, or marry? Cozy organic baby blanket options See Blake and Leo’s loved-up day of sightseeing in Italy! Toms debuts cool sunglasses that give the gift of sight Cool and chic alternatives to Moroccan poufs More exciting pics from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2! Get Summer highlights the natural way Apple users: get excited about iOS 5 Dietitians dish: common cures for bloating Video: Kristen Stewart calls costar Garrett Hedlund “The Man”

When asked about her greatest accomplishment on Twitter yesterday, Oprah shared , “My whole life. From Mississippi to now. Going to gym when I really prefer wine + chips.” Oprah has always been forthcoming about her battle with her weight and the effort it takes to stay on track. Obviously, the mogul’s tweet is a little tongue and cheek and makes light of her accomplishments as a businesswoman, but her quick response serves as just another reminder that no matter who you are, making sacrifices and skipping everything you might want in the name of fitness and long-term happiness and health is hard work. Do you count your commitment to your health among your greatest achievements? Share your story in our Get Fit For 2011 group for a chance to be featured on FitSugar and win great prizes.

It’s the beginning of a new year and a new you! If one of your goals is to start running, we have a workout for you. Working out on a treadmill during the inclement weather of Winter is a fine way to get into the sport. I am a firm believer in easing into your relationship with running since you need to give your body time to adjust to the physical demands – you don’t want to get so sore that you never want to run again. Mixing walking and running is a great way to get your heart rate up while priming your body for distance and speed. Here’s a 40-minute walking/running workout, and if you’re new to running you should certainly check it out. Take a look at the workout when you read more.

In England, a “Walk in Walk Out” 10 minute procedure has been offered at a private clinic that claims to render women infertile permanently .  This short procedure can be quick and completely private, it is claimed, since the blocking of the fallopian tubes leaves no marks upon the body. This hands the women the opportunity to have the procedure done in complete secrecy; even from their partners if so required, and has been described as a ‘Secret Lunch Hour Sterilization’. The promotional material for the procedure describes it like this: “Women can elect to have the quick and painless procedure when it suits them – and their partner won’t be able to tell”. This has earned criticism from many medical experts, who have described the procedure as “cynical and unethical” and encouraging of dishonesty between partners. According to Consultant gynecologist at the clinic, Martin Farrugia, there are many reasons why women would elect to have this procedure – because they think their family is complete and don’t want to tell their partners, or because they have complicated lives with multiple partners and so on. In this procedure, women have complete control, and privacy, and there are no visible scars to deal with. Digg this! Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on del.icio.us Tweet This! Share this on Facebook Share this on Blinklist Buzz up! Post on Google Buzz

This recipe for berry cinnamon oatmeal was shared by FitSugar reader prepel in our Healthy Recipe community group . See the recipe when you read more. Holiday Oatmeal original recipe I looove eating oatmeal for breakfast. It is such a simple and fast thing to make, and you can mix it with just about anything. I have a ton of frozen berries, but I didn’t want a cold smoothie on this cold Winter morning, so I thought - ”Why not cook it on the stove with my oatmeal?” The result – amaaaaaazing! Ingredients 1/4 cup oats 1/4 cup frozen berries 6 almonds cinnamon 3/4 cup water Directions In a small saucepan, add oats and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and add the frozen berries. Cook for another two minutes until the berries are soft. Pour into a bowl, top with almonds and cinnamon. Stir so the delicious colors blend together and enjoy . . . *I would add more oats (1/2 cup serving is how I usually eat) but I ran out . . . you can also top with pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, raisins . . . Print recipe with images | without images Got a similarly delicious recipe? Head on over to the Healthy Recipe community group and share one of your own.