Marie Lost 141 Lbs--Read More on HuffPo Healthy Living*

Marie Dozier (FEB_SHOWERS16), a 30-year-old nurse who lost 141 pounds using SparkPeople, is featured on Huffington Post Healthy Living this week.
Not only did Marie lose the weight and keep it off, but she also beat a sugar addiction, too.

Check out her story here, and if you're also struggling with a sugar addiction, you might be interested in our four-week Tame Your Sweet Tooth Challenge. 

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Does a Sweatier Workout Guarantee a Better One?

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

Is It Good to Sweat? NYT Well blog
Most of us assume that sweating is a sign of a good workout. But is it?

24 Rules For Being A Human Being In 2014 Thought Catalog
We could all use reminders to be nicer to one another. This is a great list!

7 Natural Ways to Curb Your Appetite Fit Sugar  
Forget harmful supplements and fad diets. Control your appetite and stay on track with these natural strategies.

Celebrity Cancer Diagnosis Spurs Smokers to Try to Quit NYT
When a celebrity is diagnosed with cancer, it often encourages others to quit smoking. Find out why.

6 Moves to Resize Your Butt and Thighs Self
Your butt and thighs are some of the biggest muscles in your body. Strengthen them with a half-dozen exercises.

The Best Tool for a Deeper Self-Massage Shape
A small ball you likely have in your garage or closet right now could be the secret to releasing tension and ridding your body of knots.

Lost in the Rush: How to Enjoy Every Workout Fitness magazine
Everyone has good days and bad days when it comes to exercise. Even if you aren't your fittest or fastest every time you work up a sweat, you can learn to like ever workout. Learn how.

Joy Bauer Gives Dieting Tips In 60 Seconds TODAY
Dietician and TODAY contributor Joy Bauer begins a new series, “60-Second Skinny,” in which she provides some effective dieting tips in a slim 60 seconds.

14 Things To Stop Stressing About In 2014 Huffington Post Healthy Living  
Don't we have enough to stress about in life? Here's a list of the small stuff that isn't worth stressing over.

Which stories topped your "must-read" list this week?

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'Spark Solution' on the U.S. News 'Best Diets' List

Our latest book, "The Spark Solution: A Complete Two-Week Diet Program to Fast-Track Weight Loss and Total Body Health," has made the prestigious "Best Diets" list published by U.S. News & World Report.

Out of 31 diets* on the list, ours was ranked:

• #4 Best Commercial Diet Plan
• #6 Weight Loss Diet
• #13 Overall Diet and Healthy Eating Diet

We also ranked favorably in the Heart Health and Diabetes categories, among others.

Here's what the panelists said about SparkPeople's latest book--which is now available in paperback at a low price!

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SparkPeople Success Story in 'People' Half Their Size Issue!*

One of the best parts of working at SparkPeople is watching people reach their goals and achieve things they never thought possible. Today, we're sharing with you the story of a woman who not only lost weight (more than 200 pounds) but also--as of this week--crossed a major goal off her "bucket list."

Tracy Meuschke (TRACY31502), a stay-at-home mom from South Bend, IN, is featured in this year's "Half Their Size" issue of People magazine. If you ever doubted whether you could lose weight and keep it off the healthy way, just look at Tracy for inspiration. We know her story is going to inspire so many people who are just starting their journey, who are where Tracy was just a few years ago.

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Increase in Liver Damage is Linked to Dietary Aids

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

Older Women May Spend Two-Thirds of Their Day Sitting HealthDay        
No matter your age or gender, this story likely will motivate you to stand up and get moving!

Spike in Harm to Liver Is Tied to Dietary Aids NYT
A scary but true article about how dietary supplements and aids have led to irreversible liver damage for an increasing number of people of all ages.

7 Surprising Body Odor Causes Huffington Post Healthy Living
Feeling stinky? One of these surprising causes could be the reason.  

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FREE Cookbook: The Best Slow Cooker Recipes of 2013

Remember how we announced the best slow cooker recipe in America earlier this month? Well, now we're sharing more than 25 of the best slow cooker recipes, in a FREE, downloadable, printable cookbook!

Get the 15 slow cooker recipes that were finalists in the $10,000 Split-the-Pot Slow Cooker Recipe Contest, plus more than a dozen of our favorites from the cooks at SparkRecipes.com! We have full-color photos to accompany each recipe, and--for your tracking convenience--you can click on the title of any recipe to view it on SparkRecipes.com and add it to your SparkPeople Nutrition Tracker. (You can also click on any recipe title from the table of contents to go directly to that recipe.)

You'll get NEW recipes like:

• Best Buffalo Chicken Chili (the winning recipe!)
• Creamy Tri-Mushroom Soup
• Creamy Chicken Enchilada Stew
• Alaskan Hunter Stew

PLUS old favorites, such as:

• Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken
• Slow Cooker Lasagna
• Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Roast  

Click the image below to go to the cookbook!What is your favorite slow cooker recipe?
 
 

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What You Listened to This Year

One of the best parts of my job here at SparkPeople is to co-produce our on-demand healthy living program, SparkPeople Radio. Each week, we share the latest and greatest stories to help you become healthier and happier, with interviews from SparkPeople members and experts.

We launch a new show each Monday, but this radio show is available anytime, anywhere--and you can listen to all the episodes whenever you want. No matter where you live (even outside of the US), you can always tune in to SparkPeople Radio! Plus, you get SparkPoints for tuning in. (Find details at the end of this blog or at www.sparkpeople.com/radio)

Today we're sharing some of the best stories of 2013--the one that really had people talking and continue to get downloaded even months later. Keep reading, and be sure to click the names of each segment to listen (note: most interviews are divided into two segments).

Coach Nicole’s Abs-olute Best Tips
Coach Nicole has easy, effective tips for strengthening your core and targeting your abs. Don’t miss this segment!
 
Dealing with Quick Fix Dieters
Quick-fix diets don’t work-- we know that. But how do you convince others that they’re wasting their time and even harming their health? Lily and Karen share YOUR best ideas for helping others get on track for the long haul.
 
Interview with Jan-Marie Ruminski (BOBCATGIRL76) 1/2
Interview with Jan-Marie Ruminski (BOBCATGIRL76) 2/2
Jan-Marie Ruminski (BOBCATGIRL76) was in grad school when she tipped the scales at 275 pounds. She decided it was time to get healthy--and she's down 94 pounds and counting. But her real story is not about weight loss. Don’t miss this two-part interview!
 
The Things Men Do to Be Healthy (1/2)
The Things Men Do to Be Healthy (2/2)
Humor writer Joe Donatelli is not afraid to step out of his comfort zone in the name of wellness. He did a five-day juice cleanse, tried Zumba and sweated to the oldies with THE Richard Simmons. Don't miss his hilarious tales of weight loss and exercise.

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How One Mom is Promoting a Healthy Body Image

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

'Having the perfect body isn't all it's cracked up to be': Mother-of-three hits back at Fit Mom for promoting unhealthy beauty ideals Daily Mail
We shared the story of fitness blogger Maria Kang a couple of months ago on SparkPeople Radio. She's the fitness blogger who posted a pic of herself in a sports bra and shorts with her kids and the caption "what's your excuse?" Now, another mother of three has a must-read response.

F.D.A. Questions Safety of Antibacterial Soaps NYT
The F.D.A. has issued an ultimatum to soap makers: Prove antibacterial ingredients work or take them out of products. Do you use antibacterial soap and other products?

Holiday stress calls for an attitude adjustment USA Today
The most wonderful time of year is often the most stressful. Find out how to reduce bad stress and feel more joy during the holidays. Do the holidays stress you out? How do you cope?

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Watch: How Dave and Julie Lost 220 Pounds*

Dave (dave3977) and Julie (jujumiller) Miller joined SparkPeople in February, just after starting their weight-loss journey. In just 11 months, they have shed more than 220 pounds--137 for him and 87 for her, with another 60 and 30 to go, respectively. What a great success story!

Now the couple is being called "Cleveland's Biggest Losers" by their local TV station WKYC. This morning, they were on the news to show off their slimmer, healthier selves and share the secrets to their success.


Watch the two-part segment here.

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Eating Healthy Is Cheaper Than You Think

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.
Eating Healthy Is Cheaper Than You Think
When people tell you that it's too expensive to eat healthy, tell them that the difference in cost between a nutritious diet and an unhealthy one is just $1.50 a day per person. Do you think that's a big difference or not?  

9 Easy Tips for Emotional Balance
Do you struggle to find time to do everything you need to do--let alone what you want to do? Don't miss this list of nine easy self-care rituals that will have you feeling more relaxed and balanced, even in this harried world.

Why Your Purse Is Giving You Back Pain... And 11 Ways to Fix It
Raise your hand if your purse is so heavy that you've wondered whether carrying it counts as strength training? If you tote around a large bag, you might be at risk for back pain. The good news is that you can fix it!

Fat Jokes in Children's Movies Are A Lot More Common Than You Think
Sad but true: Even in movies aimed at children, jokes that take aim at those who are overweight are more common than you might think.

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The Top Recipes You Craved This Year

On SparkPeople.com, members log thousands of food items daily on our Nutrition Tracker. SparkRecipes now has more than 485,000 recipes. That's a lot of info on what people like you are really eating when they're working to get healthy and stay that way. We looked back at the top cooking trends of the year, based on what members like you are searching for on the site. Keep reading for a wealth of recipes and meal ideas that will help you reach your healthy cooking and eating goals in 2014.

High-Protein Foods: Protein is huge right now. You know that it's crucial to weight loss, thanks to its ability to fill you up, ward off hunger, and rebuild muscles after your workouts, and you're looking for creative and delectable ways to get enough of it each day. Beyond the usual recipes, try homemade protein bars, protein pancakes & protein powder pancakes.

We like:
No Bake Protein Bars
Peanut Butter Fudge Protein Bars
Protein Pancakes


Drinking Your Vegetables: Getting in your five servings of fruits and veggies daily can be tough when you're busy. One of the easiest ways to load up on fruit is with a smoothie. Toss in a banana and some berries or melon, and you're easily halfway to your goal. But a lot of you are catching on that vegetables can be sneaked into a smoothie, too. you're trying spinach smoothie and vegetable smoothie recipes. (trust us, you can't taste the veggies.)

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So You're Feeling Too Fat to Be Photographed...

Perhaps our best and most thought-provoking roundup of links yet.

So You're Feeling Too Fat to Be Photographed... Huffington Post Women
A photographer shares poignant thoughts on what really matters when you step in front of a camera. Spoiler alert: It's not what you think!

10 Things I Want My Daughter to Know About Working Out Wellfesto
Whether you're a mom or not, don't miss this empowering list of reasons why exercise is about so much more than aesthetics.

Modern Moms Aren't as Busy as 1960s Moms Were The Atlantic
According to a new report, moms today are busy and feel like they don't have a moment to spare. However, most spend more time watching TV or using the Internet than they do on housework, playing with kids, and exercising combined.

Caroline Berg Eriksen, Fitness Blogger, Causes Stir With Selfie 4 Days After
Giving Birth Huffington Post Parents  
A fitness blogger posted a pic of her postpartum belly that's so toned and flat, it's raising eyebrows. What is your reaction to stories like these?

Why a Brisk Walk Is Better NYT
No matter the pace, walking is a good workout, but a new study says that in order to reap many of the health benefits, most of us need to pick up the pace. Slow walking just isn't going to deliver the same results.

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This Season's 7 Hottest Healthy Gifts

If there's ever a time to wish for an extra hour (or six) in the day, it's during the holidays. In addition to our normal work, family, and home obligations, we have all those seasonal responsibilities. That can leave very little time for yourself--and lead to excess stress that can interfere with your ability to reach your goals. To help streamline your shopping experience this year--which means more "you" time for healthy habits--we're sharing some of our favorite healthy gifts of the season. We think anyone would love unwrapping one of these!

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The Best Slow Cooker Recipe in America

As you might know, we recently hosted a $10,000 Split-the-Pot Slow Cooker Recipe Contest to celebrate the relaunch of SparkRecipes.com and do our part to help alleviate hunger. We know how much our members love how easy it is to make healthy recipes using a slow cooker, and we wanted to highlight some of YOUR best recipes, so we devised a contest that would allow us to thank you for helping SparkPeople grow into the largest healthy living community in America, while also giving back to those in need.

After weeks of popular voting, we selected 15 finalists, then taste-tested their creations at SP HQ, judging the recipes on taste, appearance, overall healthfulness, and ease of preparation. Today we're thrilled to announce the #1 slow cooker recipe in America is:

It was a hit among our taste-testers:
"I’d definitely make this recipe for my next get-together. It had just enough kick for me, but some people might like to add a little extra hot sauce. It’s great to eat as a soup, but you could also serve it as a dip with chips. Yum!"

"This was truly an easy recipe to make. I was amazed how many produce servings made it in there, and being ground up, the chicken really gave the chili a great consistency and taste."

The recipe's creator, Beth "Biz" Velatini, of Cary, Illinois, will win $10,000: $5,000 for her and $5,000 for her favorite hunger-relief charity, Common Threads. (The other 14 finalists will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.)

Founded by chef Art Smith, who was Oprah's personal chef, and artist Jesus Salgueiro, the nonprofit has been teaching children in underserved communities how to cook healthy, affordable meals during after-school programs for the last decade. Though it started in Chicago, Common Threads is focused on a nationwide effort to get one million kids cooking in the next five years.

Beth, who has a food blog called My Bizzy Kitchen, says she has used SparkPeople to help her manage her diabetes and lose weight. She's thrilled to be helping a program she believes in, and the prize money is much appreciated--she works two jobs to make ends meet, and her husband has been unemployed and dealing with health issues.

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Find Out How Gregg Lost 70 Pounds*

Gregg (GREGGWEISBROD) has lost 70 pounds, thanks to running and giving up junk food. Read his full weight-loss story on Huffington Post Canada Healthy Living!  

Congrats, Gregg!

*Weight loss results will vary from person to person. No individual result should be seen as a typical result of following the SparkPeople program.
 

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