My Resolution: Kicking My Caffeine Addiction in 2012

Since I was a teenager, caffeine and I have had a tumultuous relationship. (I'm not the only one.)

I started taking caffeine pills and drinking coffee (bottled Frappucinos, mostly) at 16. An overachiever, I was suffering from an eating disorder, and the caffeine helped keep me energized when I wasn't eating. I was also mourning the loss of a close friend, who had died in a car accident. The caffeine pills kept me from having to deal with my grief, as I never sat still or had time to think.

Some of my friends knew about my habit, and many of them partook in the pills as well. We didn't think there was anything wrong with them.

It took me over a year to realize the damage I was doing to my body. After I passed out for the second time, I decided to give them up. I collapsed as I walked out of AP English. My heart was beating way too fast, my vision went blurry, and the world faded to black.

My doctor diagnosed me as having anxiety attacks, which was only half the story. I realized I needed to cut back, both on caffeine and in life. I prioritized, quit a couple of activities, and swore off the pills.

In college, I pulled all-nighters fueled by coffee, soda, chocolate-covered espresso beans. You name it, I drank it to stay awake during not only late nights spent studying but also spent laying out and editing the college paper.

Not surprisingly, the anxiety continued.

My first real job was on the news copy desk at a large metro daily. I worked 4 p.m. to midnight five nights a week and sometimes worked 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. I drank diet soda like it was my job, and when I went to the bar after work (the only place to socialize after work when you work second shift), I opted for rum and diet cola, which aggravated my anxiety. The work was mentally challenging, and the tight deadlines made it quite exciting but stressful at times. My panic and anxiety worsened.

Throughout the next few years, I continued to combine anxiety medication and caffeine. I didn't connect the two until just a couple of years ago. I swore off coffee and, coupled with some other major life changes, my anxiety dissipated.

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Your Favorite Blog Posts of 2011

In need of a little holiday-season inspiration? You're not alone. That's why today we're sharing the 10 most popular blog dailySpark posts from 2011.
Get caught up on the year's top health news, find inspiration to reach your next goal, and learn weight-loss and fitness secrets from our experts and our most successful members… let's count down to the #1 most-read story we wrote this year!

#10 Can People Really Be Addicted to Food?
Do you find it very hard to avoid certain foods, or stop eating once you've started? Maybe you've got a food addiction...

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Enter to Win 3 Denise Austin DVDs

Fans of fitness legend Denise Austin, take note: Today's giveaway is three of her newest DVDs! One lucky winner will receive "Shape Up & Shed Pounds," "Boot Camp" and "Sculpt & Burn Body Blitz."

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The Worst Diet Scams

More than 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese (source), and we spend more than $40 billion a year on weight loss, much of it on pills, gadgets, and creams that don't live up to their lofty claims.

When you're desperate to change your life, and you're just starting out, it's hard to know what's truth and what's hype. Everything sounds like the secret to losing weight, finding happiness, and becoming your best you!

Late-night infomercials boast major fat burning with stunning before-and-after photos.

Magazine ads claim that a pricey cream is key to flat abs.

Celebrities tout shoes that promise a tighter, more toned posterior just by walking!

Sounds too good to be true, right?

That's because it usually is. You already know 12 Ways to Spot a Fad Diet, but the latest scams go beyond mere dieting. We asked our experts to weigh in on the year's worst diet rip-offs. Find out how to avoid falling for slick marketing ploys--before you spend any money.

When it comes to weight loss, the #1 rule is: If it sounds too good to be true, it is!

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The Top 10 Recipes Tracked by SparkPeople Members in 2011

By this time of year, many of us are in a rut when it comes to healthy eating. (I know I am right about now.) Today's list of the most-tracked recipes from SparkRecipes.com is going to help you breathe new life into your meal plans. (Did you know you can always see the most-rated and most popular recipes on SparkRecipes.com?)

These 10 recipes below have been tracked more than 230,000 times total in the last year by people just like you who were looking for something delicious and tasty to add to their meal plans.

The list yielded some surprises (like the #1 recipe is a vegetarian one!) and many recipes that have become classics on the site. Unless noted, the recipes are from SparkPeople.com experts and partners.

 Vegetarian Chili
Cut out the fat by leaving out the meat. This thick stew is perfect on top of a baked potato. For a thinner soup, add water.
CALORIES: 141.3  |  FAT: 2.9g  |  PROTEIN: 7.2g  |  CARBS: 23g  |  FIBER: 7.6g

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Win Portion-Controlled Plates or Bowls from Wine-Trax

Now that Thanksgiving is over, and we've celebrated for a day, it's time to get back on track, right?

An easy way to make sure you're not overserving yourself is to use plates that remind you about portion size, such as those by Wine-Trax.

~INDYGIRL reviewed the products earlier this year, and today we're giving some away. The company will give a set of bowls or plates to one lucky winner! (This is also a fun holiday gift, too.)

They say:
Your common-sense approach to simply elegant portion control.
Elegant clear glass dinnerware with frosted lines to indicate portions:

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The Best After-Dinner Stretches for Thanksgiving Day

After a large meal, such as Thanksgiving dinner, I like to take a short walk to jump-start digestion. If I've overindulged and feel a bit blah in the belly, I add in a few quick stretches to get the digestive juices flowing.


Today I'm sharing two of my favorites.
While I usually wouldn't advocate practicing yoga on a full stomach, this is one time I break that rule, for these specific, beneficial poses.

"Wind-Relief" Pose
About the pose:
Yes, this pose does exactly what you think it does. It helps relieve gas and bloating because, by bringing the right knee into the chest, we apply pressure on the ascending colon, which helps aid digestion. Make sure you're doing this with only the right knee in. If you bring in the left leg, it applies pressure to the descending colon, making it harder for digestion to occur.

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Share Your Thoughts: Pizza as 'Vegetable' in School Lunches

I recently spent a day speaking to high school students at my alma mater, where my sister is a senior. I was thrilled to see healthier options (like fruit and salads) than when I was there, but looking up and down the table, most of the kids had French fries, some variation of breaded meat on a white bun, and chocolate milk or a juice drink. Many also had a vegetable or, more commonly, a piece of fruit, but those bags of French fries were ubiquitous--just as they were when I was in school.

Clearly, kids are still resisting the healthier options in the lunch line, but I don't think any of them would argue that the pizza and French fries they love so much should be considered vegetables.

Pizza is a vegetable, at least according to the government. More specifically, the tomato paste on frozen pizza served at schools is considered a vegetable. And French fries stay on the menu, too.

Last January, the Agriculture Department proposed changes that would have limited the number of potatoes served each week and required that at least 1/4 cup of tomato paste be used per serving before pizza could be categorized as a vegetable.

The changes were aimed at reducing childhood obesity rates and getting more greens veggies and fruits to the lunch tray--and cutting the amount of salt in half over the next decade.

We already know that eating lunch at school increases a child's risk of being obese, so what happened? Congress last week blocked the Agriculture Department from moving forward with those rules, and the status quo lunches will remain.

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Get Active with ION Actif Clothing--and Win $50 to Buy Some

Thanks for the great feedback on last week's ActivewearUSA.com brand review. The winners of that contest are: ITSTARTSHERE and JDURK002!

They'll receive $50 to use at ActivewearUSA.com.

Today we're reviewing another brand: ION Actif.

About the company: ION Actif is dedicated to creating lasting quality women's activewear by merging enduring fabrics and design and detail. ION Actif aspires to inspire women to embrace fitness as another crucial and fashionable aspect of their lives.

The ION Actif clothing presented here has been designed with comfort and performance in mind - but not at the expense of style. ION Actif has used the best fabrics to create super cool looking pieces that mix and match in tons of ways.

On behalf of ActivewearUSA.com, ION Actif sent us several pieces to review.
SparkPeople marketing coordinator Sarah and I tried them out.  We noticed that ION Actif clothing tended to run large. For example, I wore a small in bottoms, but I often wear mediums. Their pants were very stretchy and felt GREAT!

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CLOSED: Win 1 of 5 Prizes from 'Mary's Gone Crackers'

A dear friend of mine owns a green general store in downtown Cincinnati. In addition to the eco-friendly household goods, bulk supplies, and awesome coffee, Park + Vine stocks healthy, delicious snacks and treats.

It was there that I first discovered my favorite crackers: Mary's Gone Crackers. Crispy, crunchy, full of whole-grain, gluten-free goodness, these crackers are delicious and nutritious.

Mary's recently shipped us a variety of products, many of which were new even to me. These were a huge hit in the SparkPeople office!

While the crackers (especially the black pepper variety) will always be a go-to snack for me, the pretzel-like Sticks and Twigs in the curry flavor are my new favorite. Dipped in salsa or hummus, they're a great afternoon snack that really satisfies my crunchy cravings.

Good news: Mary's is giving away five gift packs (Crackers and Sticks and Twigs in the flavor of your choice) to lucky readers! 

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Review: Made in the USA Workout Clothes--and Win $50 to Buy Some!

Growing up, I was quite the fashionista. I kept a list of the clothes I wore in a notebook so as to not repeat outfits too often. I spent my baby-sitting money on the latest trends. I spent hours scouring fashion magazines.

After college, I worked in offices where business casual was de rigueur. Heels, skirts or trousers, nice shirts and dresses made up the bulk of my wardrobe. Each morning I did my hair, put on makeup, ironed a nice outfit and headed to the office.

Since coming to work at SparkPeople 3 1/2 years ago, my wardrobe has done a 180. Not only have I lost 20 pounds, which means most of those old business casual clothes have been swapped or donated, but our office puts the "casual" in business casual. Jeans and sweaters, t-shirts and shorts, and even yoga gear is acceptable most days. (I do dress up when I have meetings or guests in the office.)

The bulk of my wardrobe is workout gear and activewear, which is very convenient for my fit and active life. I don’t buy many fancy outfits, I stopped wearing high heels when I got serious about running, and I save money by not allowing myself to buy clothes I'll rarely wear.

I set up a monthly clothing budget, and I spend the bulk of it on yoga clothes. I practice six mornings a week, I teach regularly and I wear yoga clothes to work and on weekends. I want my clothing to last, and I want it to look good, too.

As you know, SparkPeople has teamed up with ActivewearUSA.com. Their customers will be introduced to SparkPeople in various places on the ActivewearUSA site, and we're sharing some of their favorite brands with you--along with $50 gift cards. ActivewearUSA boasts most of the top brands in fitness apparel and accessories, in a variety of price points. They test every product before they agree to sell it, so you know that the products are quality. Disclosure: SparkPeople is an ActivewearUSA.com affiliate, which means that we earn a small bit of money if you buy something from their site using the links we provide. This is one of the ways that SparkPeople is able to remain 100% free.

Today is the first of six review posts we have planned over the next couple of months. Each of the companies sent us products to review, free of charge.

Practicing most mornings of the week makes for a lot of dirty clothes! Practices last up to 90 minutes, and the movement never stops, so I have mandatory criteria for my yoga clothes:

• Must be tanks and crops (in winter) or shorts with 5"-7" inseam (summer--because I'm 5' 10", I can't wear shorts that are any shorter than 5" in the inseam)
   
• Must wick sweat effectively
   
• Must stay in place--no tanks that roll up, expose the tummy during inversions or ride up when I move
   
• Must look cute!
   
• Only black bottoms to prevent sweat from showing; tops can be any color except white or cream

I'm picky, but I don't need to be distracted by my clothing. I recently tried out two items of clothing from NUX USA. I hadn't heard of the brand before ActivewearUSA sent me the sample pieces, but I am already a huge fan! Their products are high quality and made in the USA. Their prices are less than designer yoga duds for products that honestly seem as good or better than the big-name brands. NUX USA only sent two items to test, but I wish they had sent more because I loved everything I wore.

I really like their "NUXOLOGY":

To be pro peace and anti nothing.
To lead with my heart and follow with my mind.
To honor humility and be humbled by honorable people.
To choose to dance through life with all of my imperfections.
To cultivate compassion for the world by having compassion for myself.

So what about the clothes? (And that giveaway!) 

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Enter to Win 1 of 2 Prizes from Road ID

Coach Nancy is a woman who knows her running gear. You can always count her for advice on the latest and greatest shoes, accessories and clothes. For a few years now, she has been raving about something called a Road ID.

Last year, I started attending my boyfriend's bike races, where, it seemed, all the cyclists wore one. I decided to learn more. The co-founder of the company, it turns out, is an avid cyclist, and it was while training for a marathon that he was inspired to start Road ID with his father.

The back story is here.  They say: If you can’t speak for yourself, Road ID will speak for you.

Though they have several products, most of them are bracelets that you wear while exercising.  They also have shoe pouches and anklets.  With Daylight Saving Time coming up this weekend, and shorter, darker days just around the corner, we thought it was a perfect time to host a giveaway with Road ID!

They say: If you are a runner, cyclist, triathlete or just a person who doesn't sit on the couch all day, Road ID is for you. This awesome piece of gear not only looks good but it could save your life. In the event of an accident, if you can't speak for yourself, your Road ID will. Available in 6 different styles. It's not just a piece of gear - it's peace of mind.

After discovering that Road ID is not only a company that's focused on healthy living, like SparkPeople is,  but also one that's based in nearby northern Kentucky, I reached out to them. Road ID agreed to let several SparkPeople employees try their products--and my co-workers and I were thrilled with our Road IDs! (Psst, Road ID is giving some away to you as well!)

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Meet the Success Stories from 'The SparkPeople Cookbook'*

One of the best parts about writing "The SparkPeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight" with Chef Meg was tracking down SparkPeople Success Stories, getting to know them, and sharing their stories with the world.

The stories are a mix of follow-ups from "The Spark"--all those we interviewed had continued to lose and/or maintain their weight and they continued to improve their lives, one healthy step at a time--and new-to-you Success Stories. Today I want to share a few of their stories with you!

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Banning the Word 'Try' and Never Giving Up

Over the last few years, yoga has evolved from a relaxing fitness pursuit to a passion and way of life for me. I practice daily in some form, I teach classes, and I live my life by the principles of the practice.

I emphasized "in some form" because while I don't spend hours on my mat every day, I do practice yoga daily. Whether it's a few minutes spent meditating or doing breathing exercises in the morning, some mindful stretching before bed, or an actual full asana (physical) practice, I am doing yoga.

"Do or do not do, there is no try."

Though most of us know those words from the sage Yoda in the "Star Wars" movies, I hear them most often in yoga classes. The woman who trained me repeated those words, which she heard from her teachers, throughout our practices. Do a pose or don't do it--whether your pose looks like it should be on a Yoga Journal cover, whether you hold it for five breaths or a fraction of one, whether you modify or take it a step further--it doesn't matter. What matters is that you're doing it. Trying it gives you an out, carte blanche to give up or quit.

When I stopped trying to do things and just started doing them, much of the guilt that my Type A perfectionist personality imparted upon my practice vanished.

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CLOSED: Win 1 of 3 Cases of Seasonal Clif Bars

UPDATE: The winners are EVERSTEPH, STLOUISWOMAN, and BEAR1991.

Also, CLIF just told us they have a new flavor (Citrus) of Shot Blocks Energy Chews, which I love for my long runs. Have you tried them?

My boyfriend eats a lot. Though it's just two of us, I often cook for 6-8… which yields lunch and dinner for each of us: 2 portions for me and the rest for him.

He's a competitive cyclist and bikes as his primary form of transportation. The guy eats all the time!

Around our house, food goes fast, and we like to eat healthy, so we keep the pantry and fridge stocked with easy-to-eat, grab-and-go snacks for before and after a workout. Aside from my homemade baked goods (best way to portion control and resist overeating what you bake? Live with a cyclist!), his favorites are Clif bars. He always takes a couple along on long bike rides.

I like them, too, but they don't usually last long enough around the house for me to eat them!

Today, you'll get a chance to win a case of one of the three three seasonal flavors: Spiced Pumpkin Pie, Iced Gingerbread and a brand new flavor, Peppermint Stick! Three winners will be chosen.

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