FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

NYC Trans Fat Ban in Full Effect Today

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

If you live in the Big Apple or plan to visit there in the near future, you'll be happy to know that the trans fat ban will be in full effect by today, July 1. Exactly a year ago, all restaurants were required to eliminate trans fat from their cooking oils, margarines, and shortenings. This second deadline states that all prepared foods from restaurants, bakeries, cafeterias, salad bars, and food carts must contain less than .5 grams of trans fat per serving. Yep, by some FDA loophole, foods containing .5 grams can be labeled trans fat free. These various eateries do have a three-month grace period to comply with the trans fat ban; after that they can expect some hefty fines. Unfortunately, prepackaged foods sold in the manufacturer's original packaging at these restaurants, bakeries, etc. (like outsourced prepackaged salad dressing) are exempt from the ban. If so you'll still need to check labels on those foods.

If you frequent a fast food joint, here's what you can expect:

Dunkin' Donuts: Switched to a blend of palm, soybean, and cottonseed oil.
McDonald's: Eliminated cooking in trans fat oil last year. Now their cookies and apple pies are trans fat free too.
Burger King: In NYC chains, their fries, apple pies, and biscuits are trans fat free.

What can you expect from other chains? To find out

The Big Apple Gets Fruity and Pirates Can Eat All They Want

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:00:00 -0800

Two east coast food stories caught my eye and the juxtaposition of them is downright comical. The two stories seem to encapsulate the tensions of trying to live the healthy life in this modern age.

First the good news: New York City will be issuing new permits for mobile fruit and vegetable stands – 1,000 of them in fact. This is the Big Apple's latest attempt to combat obesity and bring fresh produce to low income neighborhoods where fruit and veggies are scarce. There are currently about 4,000 permits for produce stands in wealthy Manhattan, so the neighborhoods like the South Bronx and Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn will have access to these "green" carts too.

To see what the Pirates are up to in Pittsburgh just

More Photoshop Issues: Wendy's Menu?

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Photoshop gets a lot of people into trouble these days. Typically we see images being photoshopped in magazines like the Faith Hill cover of Redbook, however this is a photoshop problem of something different: A Wendy's menu.

The battle goes on whether New York City can force certain restaurants to post calorie content on their menu boards. In the midst of it all, it is being reported that the Center for Science in the Public Interest created a fake Wendy’s menu (above, click image to zoom) and sent it to the court to display that it is actually possible to include the caloric information without totally confusing the customer, which was Wendy's reasoning for not displaying the calorie info in the first place.

Personally, I think Wendy's has been being sneaky about the whole thing since the beginning. To Wendy's I say: Thanks for thinking we, the consumer, are so utterly clueless that we won't be able to decipher such a complicated menu that has prices and calories, but let me be the judge of what I can and can't handle. When people start asking if the regular burger is 280 dollars or calories, then you may have a valid case argument.

What do you guys think -- Was the CSPI playing dirty or proving a good point? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

NYC is Preventing HIV

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:45:00 -0700

I am loving New York City right now. Not only are they ditching trans fat (wahoo), but when I took a trip there last weekend, I found these in their public bathrooms. Free latex condoms!

When I checked out the NYC Condom website, I discovered that New York City is the first city to brand its very own condom. Isn't that awesome?

They are being distributed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. You can pick them up at participating locations for FREE. The campaign began on Valentine's Day this year, but as you can see, it's still going strong.

I love that NYC is doing its part to stop the spread of STIs like HIV. Maybe some other cities will follow suit.

Go Ahead Drink the Tap Water NYC

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Bottled water is getting a bad rap, have you noticed? Well not necessarily the water, but the bottle itself. Those plastic bottles are filling up our landfills. Since bottled water is a convenience beverage that we drink on the go, the bottles are rarely recycled. In fact Americans go through nearly 100 million plastic bottles every day and recycle roughly 25 percent of them. Yikes!!!! A lot of energy is expended making those bottles we only use once and then toss them.

In an effort to make the big apple greener, the city government is urging residents of NYC to drink tap water. The water in NYC is famous for making the best bagels and the best pizza dough, but the New Yorkers are taking some convincing - especially during summer. While the city water might be great, old pipes in old buildings still make residents wary of drinking out of the tap. Look for the "Get Your Fill" ad campaign and free plastic, blue refillable water bottles being handed out around New York this summer.

It looks like "the tap" is making a comeback.

Do you drink tap water? Do you filter it first? Or are you a bottled water only kind of gal? Let me know in the comments section below.

Source

NYC Ditching Trans Fat - You Should Too!

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Remember a while back I told you that New York City's restaurants had to get rid of all trans fat and post calorie counts (not that all the fast food joints are complying with this requirement) by July 1, 2007? Well, many fast food chains have already made the switch to healthier oils, which is awesome news for us health-conscious eaters. Restaurants won't be fined for violating this ban until October 1, 2007, but at least it's in the future.

Why are trans fats so bad? These are chemically altered fats and are NOT required nor beneficial to our health. Eating foods with trans fat (like partially hydrogenated soybean oil) can raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase your chances of getting coronary heart disease.

Why do companies use trans fat? It's cheap and can increase the shelf-life of their products. Watch out for cookies, crackers, candies, margarine, dips, fast foods like French fries, and frozen foods - these processed foods almost always contain trans fat.

It's great that NYC is ditching trans fat from their menus. Hopefully it will jumpstart other cities and companies to do the same.

Fit's Tips: If a food contains less than .5 grams of trans fat, they don't have to tell you on the package. So be sure to read the list of ingredients - if you see hydrogenated oil in the list, put it back!!

Source

McDonald's: Not Posting Calorie Counts on NYC Menu Boards

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:15:00 -0700

July 1st, 2007 marks the day that restaurants in New York City are required to begin posting calorie counts on menus in type that is at least as large as the price. Some restaurants, however, are not having it.

Word has it that Burger King, McDonald’s and Wendy’s are among the chains planning to defy New York City’s new rule (Taco Bell and KFC aren’t commenting on the matter), while waiting on a lawsuit in federal court they hope will get the new regulation thrown out. The restaurants say that the new regulation makes for a massive eye sore on a menu board in their NYC eateries, but a healthy advocacy group says that the restaurants are just afraid that when people see these eye-popping calorie numbers, they might switch to a smaller size and lose revenue.

In the end the city won’t fine anyone for violating the rule until October 2007, so I think it's going to be an ugly battle until then.

Source

Congratulations NYC: Smoking Down 19%

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Quitting smoking is something I can wholeheartedly support, and if you can break the habit in the big apple you can break it anywhere. My clumsy changes to the classic lyrics really don't do justice to the excitement I feel about the drop in the amount of smokers living in NYC.

Maybe it seems a little weird to get so excited over this but a 19% decrease in adult smokers is huge. It means there are 240,000 less smokers living in NYC. If you project the numbers a little further you come up with this statistic - since a third of all smokers die from smoking related illnesses, 80,000 lives have been saved.

Increase in taxes on cigarettes on both the state and city level made the price of cigarettes very expensive and smoking was banned in virtually all indoor workplaces, including restaurants and bars in 2003. The one, two punch of exorbitant price and nowhere to light up really helped some folks stamp out a bad habit. It took a while but the measures really paid off.

If you are contemplating quitting smoking set a "quit date" and read these posts about reasons to quit and ways to stop the nicotine cravings.

The Skinny On: Natural Trans Fats

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Fat. It keeps us full. It flavors our food. It gives us energy. It also clogs our arteries and raises our cholesterol levels. While some fats are better than others, others are just plain bad for you - like trans fats.

Trans fats are generally formed when liquid vegetable oils go through a chemical process called hydrogenation. Hydrogen is added to oils to make them more solid and food processors love to use them to extend the shelf life of food, as well as to better taste and texture. Not all trans fats are manufactured though, some do occur naturally, in small amounts. They can be found in some meat, a quarter pound of ground beef has 1.33 grams of trans fat, and one cup of milk has .24 grams.

Fear not New Yorkers, the city is only banning artificial trans fats, so you will still be able to eat cheeseburgers in the Big Apple. The truth is, the majority of Americans eat more artificial trans fat than the naturally occurring kind,

The FDA, however, has a different take, and they group all trans fats, be they artificially or naturally occurring, all the same. In 2006, the FDA began requiring manufacturers to list on their products if they contain a half a gram or more of trans fat per serving. The amount must be included on the food label and the food can’t be called trans fat-free, even if butter (naturally occurring) is the only fat. Another reason to read ingredients carefully.

Want to know about trans fat and Starbucks? Then

World Water Day: $1 for Water in NYC

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Tomorrow is the U.N. World Water Day, which is in place to help spread awareness of a global health issue that not everyone has clean, safe drinking water available to them. A few hundred NYC eateries are getting on board to help spread the awareness too.

Diners at 225 restaurants around the city will be asked to pay $1 for the tap water that arrives with their meal. Since many of us take the availability of drinking water for granted, as it is free and readily available; $1 is something small we can all do. The money raised will be donated to UNICEF's Tap Project, an initiative aimed at bringing fresh, safe water to the children of the developing world. If you live in NYC and you're going to be eating out tomorrow, get water instead of a coke. You'll be taking in way less calories and you're helping to support a good cause.

Don't live in NYC? There are many other ways to support the cause and provide funds for getting safe drinking water around the globe. My personal favorite is Charityis.org, where 100 percent of your donation goes to freshwater well projects in Africa and just $20 can provide clean water to someone who needs it for 15 years.

Those Sneaky Little Fast Food Places...

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:00:00 -0800

As you know already, NYC has imposed a new rule that requires eateries to list calorie counts on their menu boards, right next to the price. However, health officials noted that the regulation would only apply to restaurants that already make calorie information available voluntarily.

It is being reported that in light of this new legislation, three major players in the fast food industry - Wendy's, White Castle and Quiznos - have pulled nutritional information from some restaurants or from their Web sites in order to avoid having to list the caloric info. Wendy's pulled all caloric information from posters and fliers at its New York eateries. Quiznos and White Castle deactivated the pages on their Web site that offered all types of nutritional information.

To me, it just doesn't seem right. I can understand that the eateries saw a way around the rule (which has been criticized for being misguided) and went for it, but still, play nice already.

Aerial Yoga: Om My!

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:30:00 -0800

Bored with your yoga classes recently?

Then maybe you should try Aerial Yoga. It is a new type of Yoga that combines Yoga Asanas with movements done on a trapeze like apparatus. The physicality of training on any aerial apparatus complements the physicality of the Yoga Asanas - shoulders are stabilized while being stretched, core abdominal muscles can be strengthened and spinal flexibility becomes comfortable to explore.

Why? Michelle Dortignac, the person behind aerial yoga, believes that your body will have no choice but to learn proper alignment thanks to the effects of gravity since (like it or not) gravity always works, and it always works in one direction. The best part? No previous aerial or Yoga experience is necessary.

Right now you can only take Michelle's Aerial Yoga in Brooklyn, NY but it is only $15 per class, which in my opinion is not bad at all. For more information visit the Aerial Yoga site or call (917) 312-4339 to set up a class reservation.

Don't live in NYC, well Triangle Yoga in North Carolina has its own version of Aerial Yoga.

Hole-in-One: Drive 495

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:00:00 -0800

Looking to improve your golf game before spring swings in?

Located in the heart of SoHo, Drive 495 a private and elegant fitness facility is two-levels, 15,000 square feet of state-of-the-art workout equipment and private golf studios. Drive 495 has personal trainers, who collaborate with Drive's golf professionals to devise workouts that will enhance golf performance by correcting posture, alignment and developing specific muscle groups to achieve the desired results. How cool is that?

The golf studio features a completely computerized training program, including state-of-the-art golf simulators, the latest, exclusive equipment and CD-Rom video outtakes of members customized lessons. Very on par with the highly specialized trend that gyms are heading these days.

Visit Drive 495's site for more information and membership options.

Battle of the Frozen Yogurt Hot Spots

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 08:30:00 -0800

Every once and a while something comes around that grabs the attention of Hollywood's hottest A-listers. What is it this time?

Frozen yogurt. Yup, Hollywood is bringing frozen yogurt back (yay). Not one, but two hot spots are attracting quite the following of folks looking for a sweet treat that is actually good for you and not jam packed with calories.

Berri Good Kosher Frozen Yogurt is rich in calcium, but there is so much more. It also claims to "boost immune system, prevents acne and builds clear skin, builds strong bones and teeth, prevents bacteria in intestine and promotes good digestive system." Berri Good is not only Kosher, but also eco-friendly. Among others, Leonardo DiCaprio and girlfriend Bar Rafaeli are serious Berri Good followers. Berri Good says that it's, "Probably the best tasting non fat frozen yogurt in this world." Probably, if Leo eats it, I bet it's more than probably the best.

One ounce of the other yogurt in Tinseltown, pinkberry, has only 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 35 mg of sodium and 6 grams of carbs. Some of the locations are known for their hour long lines -- Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff, David Hasselhoff and many others have been spotted picking up some yogurt from here. Pinkberry says, "Pinkberry is yogurt, pure and simple."

Anyone tried either? Which do you prefer?

Leo and Bar images courtesy of Celebrity Babylon

Tasti D-Lite: Delightful

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:30:00 -0800

If you've ever lived in New York you're probably familiar with this sign:

But did you know that Tasti D-Lite maintains that it is:

Creamy Delicious - Consumers interested in maintaining good health and controlling their weight are still not willing to sacrifice great taste. Unlike other lower calorie and low fat frozen desserts that leave an unpleasant aftertaste, Tasti D·Lite is smooth and creamy like premium ice cream, without the drawbacks of higher calorie frozen desserts.
All Natural - Tasti D·Lite has a clean, fresh taste that is unrivaled. They do not use any artificial ingredients. The soft-serve product is sweetened with a very small amount of natural sugar. Tasti D·Lite does NOT use Nutrasweet, Simplesse, Saccharin, Sorbitol or any other artificial ingredients, such as polydextrose, mono and diglycerides or polysorbate 80.
Lower Calorie - all flavors fall into one of three calorie ranges: 38% fall between 11 and 13 calories per fluid ounce, 45% fall between 13 and 15 calories per fluid ounce, and 17% fall between 15 and 17 calories per fluid ounce; the product is 1/5 the calories of regular hard ice cream and 1/4 the calories of regular soft-serve ice cream.
Low Fat- the majority of flavors contain less than 1 gram of fat per serving; none contain more than 3 grams of fat per serving.

There's more, so

Starbucks: Trans Fat Free

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:47:40 -0800

Seattle's very own specialty coffee powerhouse is going trans fat free in 10 states starting Wednesday.

Starbucks has announced they will be cutting trans fats from the doughnuts, muffins and other treats in half of its U.S. stores. The other half of the stores will follow suit eventually but it will take some time, as the company adjusts recipes with regional bakers and food suppliers. Apparently the decision has nothing to do with the recent trend in banning trans fats in NYC, theme parks and fast food joints, Starbucks says they've been working on getting rid of the trans fat for over two years now.

Now if they could only be a little more upfront about how brutally high in calories the seasonal drinks can be. Or how about lowering the prices a little?

I guess we can't always have it all, but this is a great start.

Universal Studios Bans Trans Fats

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:37:21 -0800

If you're planning on visiting Universal Studios anytime in the future, you'll still get a taste of the thrilling rides that attracts so many people each year. What you won't get a taste of? Trans Fats.

Like so many others, Universal Studios has jumped on the healthy band wagon and stopped serving trans fats in 90% of the food served at its parks in efforts to combat heart disease in America. Walt Disney Co., announced in October that it will serve more nutritious kids' meals and phase out the artificial fats at its resorts as well.

Universal Studios has even gone a step further and added healthy side options too, including salads and fruit bowls. If you still can't fathom going to a theme park and not having fries, then you still can, they just won't be nearly as bad for your heart. NYC has already made the decision to ban trans fats and Massachusetts is on its way to banning them as well.

Fit's Tip: For now, skip the churro, a Spanish fried-dough pastry, because they will not be trans fat-free until the end of 2007.

Trans Fats in Mass

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:00:00 -0800

In the wake of NYC putting a ban on trans fats there has been a lot of buzz over which city will be the next to ban trans fats. In the poll, you guys said it should be LA but surprisingly enough, it turns out that a bill has recently been introduced that would make Massachusetts the first U.S. state to ban fats. If the bill is passed then Mass, like NYC, will force restaurants in an entire state to stop frying foods in oils that contain high levels of trans fats.

I like it Massachusetts -- go for gold!

Source

Contest Still Going On: Are You FIT for the gym?

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 04:00:00 -0800

Hey gang! The contest is still on to win a FREE 6-Month Membership to NYC's hottest work out spot, the gym.

All you have to do is join my group: Are you FIT for the gym? and tell me why you need the membership most.

One contestant, Cg2003, shared this inspiring story:
"I'm graduating from college in exactly 6 months tomorrow. I've been trying and trying to lose some weight for my special day. i feel i'm most fit for the gym because i will be committed. i am a first generation college graduate, and it would feel so great for me if i could achieve my physical peak as well as my education peak. i want to start my new life more fit and more healthy."

Don't know how to post in a group, no problem, go to this how to tutorial to learn exactly how easy it is!

Don't live in NYC? Stay tuned for contests in your area but for now, be sure to email everyone that you know who lives in NYC so they can try for their chance at the membership.

the gym

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 14:00:00 -0800

Not living in NYC means that while I don't get to regularly enjoy the amazing fitness opportunities there, I can most definitely enjoy telling you guys about them.

If you're in Manhattan you need to check out the gym, which is one of latest gyms to hit the NYC scene. Not only is my favorite color (orange) incorporated into the cool layout, the gym is committed to true fitness. Forget about the hype and the crowd that you may find at other NYC gyms, Lavinia, Danny and Vito Errico (the gym's founders who also founded Equinox) wanted to bring the community feel back to fitness centers. They only let 1500 members join the gym at any given time, leaving a great community of devoted members, sweating their Gray's Papaya off.

One of my favorite features about the gym is how in-tune they are with the fitness needs of women. the gym's Baby & Me class which incorporates Pilates, yoga and traditional calisthenics with your baby. What's more? Increased amounts of movement helps the babies cognitive development and now you don't need a babysitter.

Another cool package is the Bridal Package which was created to help even the most gym-phobic bride-to-be achieve her fitness goals, with the added bonus of decreasing stress levels and increasing energy. What bride-to-be doesn't need that?

No crowds, no fuss -- No kidding!

Urban Fitness Oasis

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:30:00 -0800

New York City has so much to offer -- Amazing gyms are no exception.

The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers could be the ultimate super gym.

What's a super gym?

NYC vs. Trans Fats, The Saga is Over

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 08:43:32 -0800

Did you know that the FDA estimates the average American eats 4.7 pounds of trans fats each year? Gross.

Well, not anymore if you live in NYC...

Health officials have made NYC the first city to ban trans fats in the United States. The final decision was made despite the 24,000 restaurants arguing against the ban saying that it is unrealistic to give them only six months to replace cooking oils and shortening and 18 months to phase out the ingredients altogether.

Restaurants will be barred from using most frying oils containing artificial trans fats by July and will have to eliminate the artificial trans fats from all of their foods by July 2008.

The Board of Health also passed another measure which applies only to restaurants that already report the calorie counts and requires them to display the numbers on menus and menu boards. The new law should affect about 10% of New York City restaurants, including many fast-food establishments. It's going to be hard to order that Premium Crispy Chicken Club from McDonald's when 680 calories is displayed right next to it!

Chicago is most likely the next candidate to ban trans fats citywide.

If you want to see what my friend Giggle has to say about all this click here.

Right on NYC!!!!!

I'm Lovin It!

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:00:00 -0800

We all know that health officials have banned smoking in several cities throughout the United States with more on the way because of the harmful effects of smoking on everyone. But did we ever think that they would be able to ban fat? To find out if they have,