Nice Arms Lady
Although my fitness goals have been different over the years, I realize that I always need to be asking myself if what I am doing is really helping me accomplish my weight and fitness goals? Am I bringing my “A-game” or am I bringing my “C+ game” and expecting an “A” anyways? Read Full Post![]()
HMR’s Demo-licious Derby
Right now, HMR staff and people across the country are participating in the TI Challenge. And here in the Corporate Office, HMR staffers are taking turns serving up healthy recipes to our office mates. Let’s take a look at what the creative (and competitive) minds here at HMR have come up with… Read Full Post![]()
Top 5 from the Trenches: High Volume Fruit and Veggies
Hello from the clinic trenches. Dieters in my classes tell me all the time they need to find foods that are easy to grab, high in volume, convenient and delicious. What is the answer? Fruits and vegetables! Recently, I polled my classes and here are the top 5 strategies for getting high volume with veggies and fruits. Read Full Post![]()
Are You Ready for a PUSH?
Here’s a question for YOU: are you happy with your current weight and level of fitness? Are there healthy behaviors and strategies from the past that have fallen out of your routine? If so, is it time to take on a “push” to build more momentum around your health behaviors? Read Full Post![]()
No Longer Black and White!
I am a person who sees things as black and white, and that attitude carries over into my diet. Being regimented like this was very helpful while I was dieting in Phase 1. The problem came when I had reached my goal and no longer had to officially diet. I was either “eating healthy” or “eating whatever I wanted.” Read Full Post![]()
Really Simple Soup: Garden Chicken and Rice
Wouldn’t it be great if you could put together an easy meal, using mostly canned ingredients, that could stay warm for a long time if needed, tasted great, and was low in calorie (perhaps, even in the Healthy Solutions® diet “box”)? Well, you’re in luck… Read Full Post![]()
Common Phase 1 Challenges: Family Pizza Night
“I just started the diet and my family is sitting down for Friday night pizza – it’s killing me. I can’t imagine life without a slice of pizza. How do people deal with this ongoing issue of not having your favorite foods anymore?” Let’s take a look at what you can do to move beyond difficult situations like this one and stay “in the box.” Read Full Post![]()
Top 5 from the Trenches: Entrees with Veggies
In this blog series, I highlight the “Top 5 faves” in our local HMR Program. This time around we are going to look at the top 5 entrée and vegetable combo recipes that dieters in our clinic are eating on a regular basis and would consider their “go-to” recipes when they want something filling, delicious and easy for lunch or dinner. Read Full Post![]()
Take Control of Your Food Environment
Let me tell you a story about Rebecca* and her attempt to stick to her diet in the face of an un-supportive environment. Perhaps you can relate to her experience… Read Full Post![]()
Dixie Dog and My Workout Rut
Have you ever had a life change that completely disrupted your routine? Whether it’s moving to a new home, caring for a sick relative, or, in my case, the addition of a 4-legged family member, major life changes can be a huge blow to your regular workout routine. Read Full Post![]()
Hacking Your HMR Shakes
Preparing an HMR shake is pretty easy – powder, water, ice, blend. Given how creative HMR dieters can be, I wanted to share some of their tips and tricks for making shakes in different ways. If you are looking for new flavors, textures, high or low volume, or just want to try something different, I think this blog will be worth your time. Read Full Post![]()
Hacking Your HMR Entrees
(Hack: modifying an item to create additional functionality)
At first glance, preparing an HMR entree seems very straight forward. Open the box, microwave for 1-2 minutes, add spices or vegetables, and eat. In fact, there are a lot of other creative ways to enjoy entrees. Let’s take a look at some of the tips and tricks veteran HMR dieters use.
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March is National Nutrition Month
March can be such a challenging month, weather-wise. At least in the northeast, it truly can come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. The cold and gloom of still-wintery weather can lead to hibernation from healthy behaviors. So what can you do to reverse this? Read Full Post![]()
Top 5 from the Trenches: High Volume Shakes
Ever wonder what other HMR dieters’ favorite recipes are? Welcome to the first in a series of “Top 5” lists all about our most popular (and most filling) recipes, according to HMR dieters. We’ll explore everything from high volume shakes made with fruit, to entrees with veggies, as well as grab-and-go veggie and fruit snacks. Read Full Post![]()
The Importance of Good Hydration All Year Long
Most of us know it’s important to stay hydrated, but what may be surprising is that our fluid needs in the winter can often be the same as at the peak of summer, when heat and humidity are excessive. Our internal regulation of fluids is managed by thirst, but dehydration can trick us into making poor decisions. Read Full Post![]()
The Can Man: Adding Volume to my HMR Entrees
My 25 years with HMR have been an exciting ride, and I have seen a lot of changes to the program. One big addition that I remember vividly was the introduction of the HMR Entrees. Read Full Post![]()
Really Easy Meals: The Five-Bean Potato
Have you ever been in a situation where you’re rushed, hungry, and not quite sure what to eat? Well, my friend, you have come to the right place. Read Full Post![]()
Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Spices, Coffee and Cocoa
Originally published October 24, 2011, this blog was part of an early series on add-ins to jazz up your HMR Shakes. We thought it was worth sharing again, in case you missed it the first time... Read Full Post![]()
Share the Love this Valentine’s Day
Every year on February 14th we celebrate Valentine’s Day, and while cards and flowers are perfectly acceptable gifts, the real big hits that day are candy, chocolate, and nice romantic dinners. In other words, indulgent food is usually involved. This can put people working on their weight in a bind – but there is another alternative… Read Full Post![]()
Your HEART is in Your Hands!
The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign raises awareness of heart disease in women and encourages them to make healthy lifestyle changes. On National Wear Red Day® (the first Friday in February), wearing red is a way to show support for cardiovascular prevention and education. Read Full Post![]()
New Year’s Resolutions: Useful or Useless?
Over dinner with a friend, we began discussing New Year’s resolutions, which led to a debate on whether they were useful or useless. “They are worthless!” he exclaimed, “No one ever keeps them, and then people feel like failures!” Of course not everyone follows through with a New Year’s resolution, I thought, but they are definitely not useless. Read Full Post![]()
The Super Bowl: Who’s Going to Win?
Super Bowl is arguably the biggest football event of the year. To have a successful weight management day, take a look at some of these delicious recipes. Read Full Post![]()
After-School Snack of Champions
With the influence of HMR on one shoulder and a gourmet chef on the other, I try to make my kids after-school snacks that are fun, delicious AND healthy. Read Full Post![]()
BBQ that’s PDQ and ITB
Good barbecue can be a bit of a production to make, and it tastes great. Oh, there are two other things we should agree on: It’s pretty high in calorie and definitely not “in the box.” Or is it? Is there a way to get that great barbecue flavor without blowing your diet? Indeed, there is. Read Full Post![]()
A Blast from My Past: The Counter-top Blender
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get stuck in a rut with your daily routines? One of my preferred routines was to make my daily HMR shake with a Braun® hand-held Immersion blender. It wasn’t until I was stretched out of my comfort zone that I realized how much of a rut I was in. Read Full Post![]()
The Childhood Obesity Dilemma
It’s all over the news – the escalating weight problems of our youth. Medical communities, the federal government, and the First Lady are all talking about what is causing childhood obesity and what we need to do about it. Read Full Post![]()
The Secret Life of a Five-Bean Entrée
All HMR entrees lead a secret life, and the Five-Bean entrée is no exception. Here’s the secret: they also make great soups. Read Full Post![]()
No Time for Morning Exercise?
No time for morning exercise right? Or at least that used to be the case. As the kids have gone, so have my excuses. I’ve learned that there are advantages to staying on the same morning schedule that used to be my norm when the kids were home, and using that time to exercise. But the reality is that it can be easy to talk myself out of it. Read Full Post![]()
How to Pick a Diet
So you’ve made weight loss a priority for the New Year. But this time you want to make sure you actually have a chance of success. Sound familiar? In fact, studies have shown that 82.5% of people pick a diet that is virtually guaranteed to fail. Weight loss can be successful, however, if you know what factors are important to consider. Read Full Post![]()
Soup: The Weight-Loss Secret That Comes in a Bowl
Allow us a moment to ponder the lowly bowl of soup. When you think about it, soup is just a main course with water added, right? It’s the same amount of food and you’ll eat just as much, right? Well, as it turns out, not so much. Read Full Post![]()
The DVR is my Secret Weapon
While working on my health over the past 25 years, I’ve discovered that if I want to sustain a high level of physical activity, I need to have a variety of strategies to do it. I’ve also learned that I need a “go-to” activity that I can count on, no matter what. Read Full Post![]()
So You Made a New Year’s Resolution to Lose Weight. Now What?
Now that January 1st is behind us, many people like to get a fresh start and make New Year’s resolutions. Coming off of the holidays with all the high-calorie holiday “treats” that cause weight gain, the resolution to lose weight is a popular one. Here are some tried-and-true strategies anyone can do to lose weight and keep it off. Read Full Post![]()
The Rehabilitation of Brussels Sprouts
If ever a vegetable needed a public relations makeover, it would be the Brussels sprout. Just do a quick online search for Brussels sprout and you see comments such as “Tastes like punishment!” and “Soft, mushy and yucky – no thanks!” So, let’s blow up traditional ways of cooking them. Instead of boiling, let’s try something new – like roasting. Read Full Post![]()
Girl about Town: Hot Drinks for Cold Days
All summer long, when it’s too hot to cook or I just want something cold and refreshing, I’ll happily blend up a fruit smoothie or make a shake with a no-calorie add-in. However, in these colder months, I haven’t been as excited to have an icy cold beverage… Enter hot drinks. Read Full Post![]()
Suffering from Holiday Diet Fatigue? Pump up the Volume!
This might be a good time to take a step back and review what’s been happening the past few weeks. So far, you’ve survived Halloween, Thanksgiving, holiday parties, Hanukkah (for some), and Christmas (for others). But, we’re not quite done yet. The New Year’s weekend is coming fast. Read Full Post![]()
Demo-licious!
This was a fun and easy way to introduce my friends to HMR and get them on their way towards their weight loss goals. I’m happy to report that they’ve already lost 4.5 to 10 lbs each in the first 2 weeks on their diets! Read Full Post![]()
To Snack or Not To Snack?
How many times have you heard the advice that it is better to eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 meals a day? Eating more frequent meals has been said to help “speed up your metabolism,” decrease your appetite, or increase your energy level. Is this just another diet myth or is there any truth to it? Read Full Post![]()
Sneaking in Physical Activity during the Busiest Time of the Year
No matter how busy I am all year long, December is even busier. Along with work, family, and maintaining a household, there’s all of the prep and activities for the holidays. Yikes! So, what’s an overly busy person to do? Short bouts! Read Full Post![]()
Healthy Hanukkah Helpings
Unlike other Jewish holidays, such as Rosh Hashana, where apples and honey are the most recognized food of the holiday or Passover, where bitter herbs, eggs and harroset play a prominent role on the plate – Hanukkah is all about The Gap. Here are some Decision-Free and Healthy Solutions/Phase 2 ideas for a low-cal, healthy Hanukkah celebration. Read Full Post![]()
The Phase 1 ‘Stay In the Box through Year End’ Challenge
During the holidays, you may ask “Do I eat off the diet, or stay ‘in the box?’” Well, staying “in the box” is a virtual guarantee of weight loss and those that don’t will likely struggle. So, here’s the challenge to everyone in Phase 1: Stay “in the box” 100% over the holidays. Here’s how to do that without feeling like you’re depriving yourself. Read Full Post![]()
Banishing the Baking Blues
This time of year, it is so fun to be in the kitchen with my children creating cookie masterpieces! However I also struggle with having baked goods in the house as I could easily eat a lot of calories in baked goods several times a day. This has been a dilemma for me until I found some recipes for baking things that are not meant to be eaten. Read Full Post![]()
Moo Goo Gai Pan: In the Box Take-Out Food
During a recent trip to the grocery store, something caught my eye. It was the huge amount of floor space devoted to ready-to-eat take-out food. Does anybody buy groceries in grocery stores anymore? The good news is that you can make “in the box” fast food… Read Full Post![]()
Pesto Change-o
One of America’s favorite sauces for pasta is pesto. Unfortunately, traditional pesto runs anywhere from 850 to 1,200 calories a cup, or about 65 calories for a single tablespoon. Let’s see if we can put pesto on a diet, perhaps even lowering the calories to “in the box” levels while maintaining its flavor. Read Full Post![]()
Turkey Chili with Beans: Three Ways
There are few foods that say ‘America’ as much as chili and many areas lay claim to being its birthplace. Having thoroughly researched this I can definitely state that chili was first created in Texas. Or Spain. Or California. Or the Canary Islands, or Arizona, or Arkansas, or New Mexico, or South America. Read Full Post![]()
Are You Planning to Stay “In the Box” on Thanksgiving?
Been to the HMR Forums Lately? There’s something really great going on over there! With Thanksgiving fast approaching, people are using the Weight-loss Forum to reinforce their commitment to stay “in the box” and keep losing weight. Read Full Post![]()
Un-learning Theory
The other night my daughter was lamenting the fact that I had to teach a class on a night I normally would be home. I explained to her in terms that a 6-year-old would understand that “Mommy needs to go teach grown-ups how to eat veggies and fruits.” My daughter laughed at the idea that adults would need to be taught something like that. Read Full Post![]()
Building the Better Burger: Portabello Burgers
On a recent trip to visit family in CA, something caught my eye as I traveled from the airport to my destination. It was hamburgers – they were everywhere… Read Full Post![]()
The Phase 1 Thanksgiving Challenge
Most people know that breaking a diet, even one time, can drastically reduce weight loss… So, here’s HMR’s challenge to everyone in Phase 1: Stay “in the box” 100% over the long Thanksgiving weekend. Let’s take a look at how you might do that without feeling like you’re depriving yourself. Read Full Post![]()
Autumn Chili
One of the problems with traditional fall foods is that they can have me packing on pounds faster than the Red Sox fall out of 1st place in September. With that in mind, I started working on some classic fall recipes that are full of flavor, have lots of vegetables, and are low in calories. Read Full Post![]()
Taking a Bite out of Holiday Weight Gain
Whether you are in Phase 1 or Phase 2, the year-end holidays can be challenging. It seems like when the Halloween candy first appears in stores, to Thanksgiving, on through December’s holidays, and perhaps ending with Super Bowl Sunday in early February, Americans are faced with one over-eating occasion after another. Read Full Post![]()
Raise the BeneFit Bar
When only something chewy and flavorful will keep your hand out of the cookie jar, having a good Benefit® Bar recipe can make the difference between staying the course or going off track. Read Full Post![]()
Starting Over: How an Injury Brought My Exercise to a Whole New Level
December 23rd, 2010…a date that will be in my memory forever. It was the day I tore my Lis Franc joint in my foot – an almost guaranteed career-ending injury for most professional athletes – and an injury that would forever change my physical activity. Read Full Post![]()
On the Road… and on the Decision-Free Diet
My frequent flier miles say it all: 1.5 million miles. That’s A LOT of travel AND a lot of opportunities to get into trouble with my diet. Over the years, I have been in different phases of dieting while being on the road. Read Full Post![]()
Lettuce Play With Our Food
Were you ever told not to play with your food? Well, I give you permission to play with your food. I don’t mean sling your Chicken Pasta Parmesan across the room, or finger paint with 70 Plus pudding. No, I’m talking about playing around with HMR Shakes and Entrees to create fun, new recipes that you can really get excited about! Read Full Post![]()
Can You Reset Your Metabolism?
There are many myths in the area of weight management but perhaps none as daunting as the “set-point”. According to this theory, each person has a set, pre-determined weight and body fat to which his or her body naturally gravitates. Essentially, this theory says that your metabolism adjusts itself to maintain a weight at which it is comfortable. Read Full Post![]()
Yoga with Irene
Imagine you’re stuck in a small log cabin in Vermont with 3 young children while Hurricane Irene is storming outside! I know what you’re thinking – how fun! A day filled with baking bread and crazy art projects! Not so much. That's where we rode out the storm, and my husband and I pulled out all the tricks for what to do on a rainy day. Read Full Post![]()
On the Road: How to Take Your Exercise with You
Traveling for business or leaving home on vacation does not mean that you have to leave your exercise habits behind. Here are some of my strategies for fitting in exercise when I’m traveling. Read Full Post![]()
Picnic Beans
My parents were consummate party throwers. Nothing wild, mind you, but they were either hosting or attending get-togethers sometimes 2-3 times a month. Backyard cookouts, company picnics, church pot lucks, beach parties, kids’ birthdays and just plain old ‘hey, lets have a party’ were occasions to get everyone together and ‘bring a covered dish.’ Read Full Post![]()
My Favorite Kitchen Gadgets (and how I use them to make my life easier): The Crockpot Edition
I like to tease my husband that the local Best Buy® store is his best friend. He likes to spend time there visiting his favorite gadgets and daydreaming about bringing them home one day. Since I do most of the meal prep and cooking in the house, I thought I would introduce you to my best kitchen friends (i.e. gadgets that make my life easier)... Read Full Post![]()
Freeze, Frappe or Float
Depending on where you hail from in the U.S., you may know them by different names. Where I’m from, when you blend ice cream and soda together you get a “freeze.” I’m talking about those blended, thick, frosty, icy shakes that are reminiscent of malt shop fare. One big sip and you have instant brain freeze. Read Full Post![]()
A Train, A Plane, and A Hotel Room
I had a trip planned to Boston, MA from my home in California, and I wanted to make sure I arrived at my destination without having gained weight. So, I did an experiment: to see if I could stay on track, eat healthy and arrive at my destination without blowing my calorie budget on snacks along the way. Read Full Post![]()
Dips Without Chips
The problem with most traditional dips is two-fold. First, they are served with chips. In nutritional parlance, chips are basically a crunchy vehicle for salt and grease. Hey, I guess someone had to say it. The second problem is the dip itself. Read Full Post![]()
A Conversation with Jason
Jason Asciola has lost 164 lbs. in the HMR Program in Auburndale, MA. He is now in Phase 2 – still losing some weight and working on maintaining his weight loss.
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Fast Food for a Family of Five
Before having my children, even as far back as when I was single, I’ve always thought of the HMR Entrees as the starting point of my meal, kind of a “hamburger helper” if you will. I am a volume eater and like a big plate of food, so I have always added vegetables to the entrees. Read Full Post![]()
Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Extracts
In the first three “Make a Shake, Make it Great” blogs, we discussed using diet soda and sugar-free flavored water, then sugar-free syrups in your shakes, and finally sugar-free puddings and Jell-o®. The next stop in our series is using extracts in your shakes. Read Full Post![]()
Dynamic Entree Duos
Many HMR foods go together just as well as some of your old favorites. Let’s take a look at some entree + entree combinations that have become HMR classics. Read Full Post![]()
Girl About Town: The Lost Weekend
We all know how it is. Friday comes (TGIF!) and a whirlwind of freeform activity ensues: dinners with friends, birthday parties, watching “the game,” Brunch (with a capital B), not to mention all-day affairs like weddings, family parties, etc. These types of weekend activities tend to involve lots of eating (and drinking) and not so much exercise… Read Full Post![]()
Misleading Labels: How ‘Zero’ Calorie Foods Contain Hidden Calories
We were having green beans and mushrooms with dinner the other night – one of my favorites. As usual, we had the no-calorie spray butter on the table and I noticed it was getting a little low. Funny, we had just bought a new bottle last week. Oh well, it has zero calories right? Read Full Post![]()
Just Like Mom Used to Make
There’s nothin’ like my mom’s oatmeal. When I was a kid my mom would send my brother, sister and me off to school with a warm bowl of oats that was to die for. Even now, I get all warm and fuzzy inside when I think back to that delicious bowlful of love. Read Full Post![]()
Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Sugar-Free Pudding or Jell-o
The third in a series, this blog focuses on ways to add variety to the flavor of your shakes by using sugar-free pudding or Jell-o®. Read Full Post![]()
Yo-yo Dieting: Harmful or Harmless?
Let’s face it – gaining and losing weight is a fact of life. Sometimes it’s just a few pounds here and there but, at other times, it can be even more significant amounts of weight. Commonly referred to as “yo-yo dieting,” one question that often comes up is whether losing and then regaining weight is harmful. Read Full Post![]()
Kids and Kabobs
I recently decided to introduce vegetable kabobs to my kids since food on skewers is so interesting to little children. I mean really, who doesn’t like food on a stick? Read Full Post![]()
Recipe Substitutions: Great Taste, Less Calories!
A common question I hear is, “how can I make some of my favorite recipes lower in calories but still have them taste good?” Well, making small ingredient changes to the fat content of a recipe you love can often cut a lot of calories and have very little impact on the overall quality and taste.
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Benefits of Weight Loss that Your Doctor Won’t Tell You
There are so many other positive side effects of weight loss you can actually feel almost immediately. Some of these are due to losing weight, some of these are due to the additional exercise you’re doing, and most of them are due to both. So, with that in mind, here are some of the benefits of weight loss that your doctor may not tell you about. Read Full Post![]()
Yikes! The Gym!
The GYM... Do you cringe when you hear the word? If you do, you’re not alone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Trust me, after 22 years as a fitness trainer, I have learned some ways that will help you make the gym your best friend. Read Full Post![]()
I Eat Whole Cantaloupes
I know calories. I mean, I’ve worked for HMR for 22 years, so I better know calories! But recently, some calorie information really struck me in a new way. Melons, like honeydew, watermelon and cantaloupe, are only 10 calories an ounce. Read Full Post![]()
No-Bake Entree Recipes, Part 1
Sometimes you just don’t want a hot meal; like lunchtime, summertime, and lazytime. Give your microwave the afternoon off with some easy, throw-together meals that don’t require a kitchen appliance. Read Full Post![]()
Looking for Straight Talk about Nutrition?
If You’re Confused, You’re Not Alone
Many people have shared with me over the years that nutrition can be a confusing or boring topic. With so many mixed messages in the media, it can be hard to navigate around the facts. Read Full Post![]()
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly… of working out with kids in tow
I often find myself wondering “what was I thinking?” when I’m in the middle of a “workout” and I’ve tried to bring the kids along or, even harder, include or involve them. That’s when I started thinking about the pros and cons. Read Full Post![]()
Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Sugar-free Syrups
In the first ‘Make a Shake, Make it Great’ blog we discussed using diet soda and sugar-free flavored water. The next stop in this series is using sugar-free syrups in your shakes. Read Full Post![]()
Diary of a Demo
It all started on a Saturday morning run with my friends. We’ve met up every Saturday for 7+ years to slug out a few miles together and update each other with what’s going on in our lives. I’ve thrown a few BeneFit Bars their way over the years, but they’ve asked me very few questions about dieting. Today was different. Read Full Post![]()
The 4 O’clock Shake
When is the toughest time of the day to resist higher calorie foods? Whenever I ask this question, people always seem to know which time of the day is the most challenging for them. Read Full Post![]()
Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Diet Soda or Sugar-free Flavored Water
HMR makes 2 basic flavors of shakes: vanilla and chocolate (the Chicken Soup and Multigrain Hot Cereal also count as shakes, but we’ll talk about them in another blog). While most people think the vanilla and chocolate shakes taste really good on their own, at some point they might want, well, something else. Read Full Post![]()
What’s on the Menu? Lots of Calories!
Would knowing the calories on a restaurant item influence your choice of food? Would seeing that the burgers on a menu could “cost” you over 1200 calories make a difference to you? Would you select a different food item or would you ignore the information? Read Full Post![]()



