Diet & Fitness Blog

Whether your Independence Day fare is a patriotic potato dish, an all-American meat recipe or a stately salad, share your nosh with the nation and do your part to keep this country fed. We’re considering all great recipes – from the grill, the oven or just your trusted cutting board.

Our staff will vote on your cookout cuisine for its taste, creativity and nutritional benefits. If yours reigns supreme, you will win an eDiets goodie bag (valued at over $200!), containing a pedometer, exercise DVDs and CDs, workout equipment and a lot more.

But that value pales to the priceless fame that comes with having your recipe featured in an upcoming issue of The Daily Skinny newsletter, complete with bragging rights! If you're not getting the Skinny newsletter, you can sign up here.

Send your recipe and contact information to blog@ediets.com. If yours is selected, we’ll contact you by email to let you know which Skinny newsletter your recipe will appear. We’ll even have your recipe analyzed by our nutritionists for its nutritional value – and they may offer improvements without changing its award-winning appeal!

Just to whet your appetite and get the creative juices flowing, try this cool summertime thirst quencher from Atkins that is low-carb, full flavor and comes with a healthy dose of vitamin C:

Low-Carb Margarita

Labels: cooking, holidays, recipes

Mine came out great (in fact, that's a picture of it up there)! Let me know how your pudding cake turns out by commenting below!

Labels: food, holidays, recipes

This weekend, the 108th U.S. Open will take place at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Aside from being the national championship, the final round of this prestigious event is contested on Father's Day. It's only appropriate that one of the most coveted titles in professional sports should be awarded on Father's Day.

Like a good golf pro, fathers guide us through each round of our lives. Only we can make the shots, but our fathers motivate us to play at our best. A good father teaches us to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. When we get a bad lie, a father inspires us to make the best of it. When we hit our ball in the water, a good father inspires us to shrug it off and focus on our next shot.

Of course, my analogy will work with just about any sport. However, for me, no sport embodies the spirit of fatherhood better than the game of golf. In my relationship with my father, perhaps nothing brought us closer together than the game of golf. It provided me the opportunity to enter my father's world and allowed the two of us to really bond. The golf course always served as a sanctuary, on which to cultivate our relationship with one another.

Some of my earliest childhood memories involve going to the driving range with my father. He would hand me a 9 or a 7-iron and let me hit some of his range balls from the mat next to him. Eventually, I worked my way up to earning a few swings with his driver.

"That's the longest drive I've ever seen you hit," he seemed to remark on every subsequent trip to the range.

When my father played a round of golf on family vacations, I always rode in the cart with him. Somewhere around the middle of the round, he would let me drop a ball and play along for a few holes. Even in those days, my father made it a point to teach me the etiquette of the game.

When I was 10 years old, my father took me to see the 1980 U.S. Open Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. One of the best memories of my childhood was standing beside the 18th green as Jack Nicklaus rolled in his final putt at dusk on Sunday to win the tournament. Chants of "Jack is back!" erupted from the gallery. At 40, Nicklaus had become the first person ever to win four U.S. Open titles.

Years later at the Honda Classic in Coral Springs, Fla., my father and I saw Jack Nicklaus again -- walking right next to us in the gallery. He and his wife Barbara were following their own son, Gary. That tournament also allowed me to see my favorite player on the PGA TOUR, Davis Love III. Davis has been my favorite ever since I read his book, Every Shot I Take: Lessons Learned in Golf, Life and a Father's Love. The book is (you guessed it) a tribute to his dad!

My favorite round of golf with my father occurred when the two of us played on the same team in a scramble at Boca Dunes Country Club. I was the lead-off man for our team, and I remember my hands started to shake as I gripped the club and stepped up to hit my first drive. I hit it down the center of the fairway though, and my father was beaming with pride.

Shortly after this event, one of the worst fears of my childhood came true -- I was exposed to my father's mortality. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. When he started chemotherapy, one of the first questions he asked the doctors was whether he would still be able to play golf. Fortunately, the answer was yes.

It is hard for me to believe that it was seven years ago that my father and I celebrated our last Father's Day together. He was entering the final round of his courageous battle against cancer, and we both knew he had only months to live.

The two of us completed a full 18 holes of golf that morning. Despite his frail condition, my father fought rain, crowds and fatigue in order to do that with me, and he never uttered a single complaint. After the round, we returned home to hoist a few beers and watch the end of the U.S. Open on television.

In his book, Davis Love writes, "My late father, for who I am named, is still my hero. He always was; he always will be." You know something? I know exactly how Davis feels.

I've read that as long as your father is alive, you will always be a son. I'm sorry, but I think this is nonsense. Time has taught me that you don't stop being a son merely because your father dies. Even if you are a father or grandfather yourself, you will always be your father's son. And, for me, nothing embodies the spirit of fathers and sons better than the U.S. Open.

No matter what happens this weekend, one thing is certain. The 108th U.S. Open champion will be somebody's son. And whether this golfer's father is standing beside him on the 18th green or smiling down from the heavens, that son will have one proud Dad!

All of us at eDiets would like to wish all the fathers and grandfathers out there a Happy Father's Day! Even if golf isn't your "cup of tee," do you have special memories of times spent with your Dad? Send your own Father's Day greetings by posting a comment below.

Labels: holidays, relationships

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press,
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech,
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate,
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial,
It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
Serves under the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag."
-- Father Dennis Edward O’Brian, USMC

I'll be the first to admit that I used to associate Memorial Day with barbecues at the beach, baseball games and big sales at all of the department stores and car dealerships. But the holiday has taken on a much deeper meaning for me ever since the day my father was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. As a former Captain in the United States Marines Corps, George Robert Mueller received an honorable burial complete with a caisson, a military band and a 21-gun salute. The ceremony gave me chills, and I don’t think I ever felt more proud to be his only child and son.

Though he didn't die on the battlefield, my father was active in the military during the Vietnam era. He lost many of his best friends in that War, though it was always a difficult thing for him to talk about. I was actually named after one of my father's best friends from his days in the Marines.

Ironically, my dad passed away from pancreatic cancer just weeks before the day of the dreaded 9-11 attacks. Since he used to have an office in the World Trade Center, I sometimes think it is a kind of blessing that my father didn't live to see that fateful day. It would have broken his heart for sure. When my mother and I finally had my father inurned in the Columbarium at Arlington a full two years after his death, there was still visible damage to the Pentagon building -- another fateful reminder of this nation’s "second day of infamy."

Shortly after my father was put in his final resting place, I remember walking around the National Mall with my uncles, all of whom are veterans. Since my Uncle Donn served in Korea as a paratrooper, we made a point to stop at the Korean War Veterans Memorial. It is a magnificent piece of work, complete with statues of American soldiers marching in full combat gear, a granite mural with over 2,000 photographs sandblasted into the surface and a tranquil pool of remembrance. What I remember most of all, though, is a small wall behind the Memorial with a simple yet powerful inscription: "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE."

Though we don't do it nearly enough, Memorial Day is at least one day on which all Americans are called upon to remember the price that comes with of our basic freedoms. As great as it is to get time off from work, today is dedicated to all those who have laid down their lives in order to preserve our American way of life. Throughout the course of our nation's great and noble history, it has only been the sacrifices of the brave men and women in our military that has earned us the very liberties most Americans now take for granted. With a shaky economy, rising gas prices and the increasing cost of food these days, it is easy to forget how fortunate we are to live in the greatest country in the world. But forgetting is something we can't ever afford to do!

In the immortal words of Captain John H. Miller from the movie Saving Private Ryan, "Earn this!" Personally, I realize that there is nothing I can possibly do to ever earn the countless graces and blessings I receive every day by virtue of being an American citizen. But each Memorial Day, I say a prayer for our nation's fallen war heroes. And then, I rededicate myself to being the best person I can be in every aspect of my life... so that their sacrifices shall not have been made in vain.

Now, I realize that Memorial Day is intended to commemorate the American men and women who have died in military service to their country. But, I would also like to take this opportunity to send a heartfelt message of gratitude to everyone currently serving in our armed forces. May God bless you, protect you and bring you home safely to your families!

And to anyone reading this that may have lost friends or family members in military service, I would like to extend my sincere condolences for your loss. Nothing I can say will take away your sorrow, but in the spirit of Memorial Day, I would like to close with the following words from Abraham Lincoln:

"I pray that our heavenly father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom."

All of us at eDiets wish you a safe and happy Memorial Day. May we cherish our freedoms and always remember to honor those who gave everything they had in order to preserve them. And may God continue to bless this great nation of ours!

-- Glenn Mueller, senior writer/editor

Labels: holidays

Mother's Day is a day to honor and celebrate moms. Moms are very special and they play a critical role in their children's lives. When you think about it, for most people, the first relationship they develop is the one with their mom. It's also the longest lasting relationship!

To help make your Mother's Day a good one, here are 4 simple tips for how to improve or strengthen the relationship with your mom.

1. Focus on Positive.
In any relationship there are going to be struggles and challenges. Instead of focusing on what goes wrong or your struggles, shift your attention and begin to amplify or recognize what's right (positive/good) about you and your mother. Make a list of what you love about your mom and tell her.

2. Respect and Validate Differences.
Each of you was born in a different time period, with different values and ways of living. You may not agree on everything, even the important things in life. You don't have to agree with each other -- just acknowledge and respect each other's thoughts and feelings. Some people have been angry or in a fight with their mom for years. These are wasted years. Pick up the phone and apologize or forgive her. Move on. Often times, the qualities that we dislike in our mothers, we find in ourselves as we grow older.

3. Boundaries.
Respect one another's privacy. Boundaries in what you say and tell your mother (and what she tells you) are OK. Do not look to your mother to be your best friend.

4. Time.
Often times, we don't spend enough time with our moms. What about those deep conversations that you used to have with your mother? Do you know where she would go in a crisis? Do you really know what is on her mind these days? What does she enjoy doing? Spend time strengthening your relationship and opening the lines of communication between you and your mother. Be clear about what you mean. Say what you mean.

Don't expect your mother to read your mind! When we expect others to read our minds we always get disappointed. Like any relationship, this relationship also takes work. Change cannot occur in one day or week -- but over time!

Dr. Terri Orbuch, The Love Doctor, is a psychologist, Oakland University professor, and research professor at The University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research. Dr. Orbuch's Love Doctor Relationship Segments are aired weekly on Fox TV-Detroit and radio stations across the U.S. and Canada. You can find out more about The Love Doctor® at www.drterrithelovedoctor.com.

Labels: holidays, relationships, tips

My title here at eDiets means that I’m a "creative" person, but not usually a writer. I was asked to be a guest blogger so here I am trying my hand at blogging...

The topic for my blog comes from a subject very close to my heart -- April 30 is my 2nd wedding anniversary. My husband and I are going away for our anniversary; we are scuba divers so we are heading to the Keys.

With that being said we decided to give each other presents early. I gave my husband (most useful) a watch that he’s been wanting for a while now and he gave me (smartest. gift. ever.) a housekeeper to come once a month to clean our condo. Isn’t that awesome?

And so that made me think: What the best present you've received for a special occasion (anything counts -- an anniversary, birthday, lost weight, graduation, championship, etc.). Maybe it was the silliest, funniest, craziest, sexiest, smartest or most useful kind of gift, but whatever it was... share! Trust me; you will just give people ideas for the next occasion coming up!

Labels: holidays, relationships

Of all the nationally recognized holidays, April 30's is my favorite. If you're one of the few who aren't "in the know," it's Oatmeal Cookie Day. It's time to celebrate!

Is there anything more comforting than a warm, soft cookie straight from the oven with a nice glass of milk? My favorite cookie flavor is oatmeal raisin. I could eat them by the dozen -- and sometimes I do. Since they're made with real oatmeal, they're healthier than regular cookies, right?

"Well, it's still a cookie," explains eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pam Ofstein. "But it can be a better choice than, say, chocolate chip or sugar cookies."

Pam recommends this recipe for oatmeal cookies because it's made with rolled oats, egg whites and whole-wheat flour as a low-fat, low-cal cookie that won't leave you all soft and doughy in the middle.

"With a glass of low-fat milk, this oatmeal cookie is a tasty treat with wholesome ingredients to satisfy your sweet tooth. That little something special to end a healthy meal," suggests Pam.

If plain old oatmeal cookies aren't exciting enough for you, Pam recommends adding raisins or dried cranberries to add some sweetness, as well as valuable anti-oxidants. And if you're looking for something with a little more crunch, add some walnuts for an extra dose of protein and heart-healthy omega-3s.

As far as cookies go, the oatmeal cookie is a healthier selection than most, but don't go all Cookie Monster and eat the whole batch. Just grab a glass of milk and enjoy!

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 12 minutes

Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
5 tablespoons stick margarine or butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large egg whites, beaten
2/3 cup regular oats
Cooking spray

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour and next six ingredients (flour through cloves). Beat the sugar, margarine and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg whites and beat well. Stir in flour mixture and oats. The mixture should be soft, not gooey. If needed, add more flour.

Drop by level tablespoons 3 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until crisp. Cool on pan 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pan; cool on wire racks. Makes 24 cookies.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: one cookie; Calories 76; Protein 1 g; Total Carbohydrate 12 g; Dietary Fiber 1 g; Sodium 61 mg; Total Fat 3 g; Saturated Fat 0 g; Cholesterol 0 mg

Labels: food, holidays, recipes

Oh, no! The screech from my alarm clock shatters my happy holiday dreaming and brings me right back into the cold reality that is today -- Tuesday -- a work day. I celebrated my heritage and love of whiskey and beer on St. Patrick's Day, but today I must drag myself from the sanctuary of my warm, cozy bed and go bleary-eyed to work to slog through my day.

It will not be pretty.

I feel like someone blarney-stoned my brain, kicked me in the shamrocks and upholstered the interior of my mouth with well-worn, green shag carpet. This is my least favorite part of St. Paddy's Day -- the hangover.

Normally, I would use my tried-and-true hangover cure of ibuprofen, ice-cold Gatorade, a greasy, cheesy meal and lying on the couch watching SportsCenter all day, dozing in and out of consciousness, until about 4 or 5 this afternoon when my hangover gives way to the guilt of wasting another day after a night of over indulgence.

I can hit the snooze bar no more; I must get up. I'm going to need a game plan if I'm going to survive the day-after doldrums. So I head to the medicine cabinet.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can alleviate a headache, but I have to be careful because studies show that mixing an acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin, etc.) pain reliever with alcohol can be hazardous to the liver. The best thing to do is wait until the morning to take any type of pain reliever and stick with ibuprofen products after a night of boozing.

Brushing my teeth and a quick shower takes care of that taste in my mouth and at least makes me look presentable. In my hurried haze, I forget socks and hope no one will notice. Where are my keys? I need food. So thirsty…

There are numerous morning-after meals that some people swear by, such as: a cheeseburger and milkshake, a big greasy breakfast with all the fixings, a peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich on white bread, beans and rice, a sour herring with a beer chaser, a fried egg sandwich, and, of course, the hair of the dog that bit you. I need to eat to replenish the nutrients I lost the night before. I stop by Micky-D's for a number one with a black coffee on the way to work.

Many drinkers believe in having a cocktail to cure your hangover, with the most popular being the Bloody Mary. However, from what I understand, drinking before work is frowned upon. So I opt for an ice-cold Gatorade.

I get in and they are testing the building's fire alarm system.

Really? Today of all days… St. Paddy, why have you forsaken me?

Loud beeping and blinking lights make it difficult to focus. I crawl under my desk to hide, a la George Costanza. Maybe no one will notice I'm gone and I can get just a little nap in… yawn.

Time, rest and relaxation are the only 100-percent cures for a hangover, according to Dr. Guy Ratcliffe, medical director of the Medical Council on Alcohol. But if you don't have the time for the resting and relaxing, you might want to try one of these cures supplied by our readers:

"Juice and Gatorades tend to be a little strong taste-wise, so that leaves us with a conundrum. The solution? Pedialyte. This seems to be the only thing that my stomach can handle if I have tried to drink myself into oblivion the night before. It's gentle on my stomach, in that it has electrolytes and fructose. I highly recommend the apple flavor. Pedialyte can be found in the baby section of any supermarket and should not be ignored simply because curing hangovers was not its original purpose. Besides, with all the complaining and curling up in the fetal position, who's to say we don't transform into overgrown babies?" -- Kathryn This was suggested by several people, so it may be worth trying out.

"I do coke and pretzels, it seems to work every time." -- Christine This combo is easy to find at the office, so may be good if your hangover doesn't hit 'til you get to work.

"The redneck hangover cure is 1 tablespoon of sugar, mixed into 1 can of cold Coca Cola. Take along with 2 over-the-counter ibuprofens, then nap 90 minutes. When you wake up, no more hangover! Works every time!" Interesting, if you can figure out a way to get in a nap, this is worth a shot… Shot? (Shudder.)

"Alka-Seltzer is the best! Especially if you must work the next morning! I like the one that adds cold, plus, the boss sees it and thinks you must have a cold!" -- Annie I like this, very sneaky.

"Tae Bo for 15 minutes or until you break a sweat, glass of water and a shower. It doesn't necessarily take the hangover away, but at least you feel you accomplished something for the day and can lay on the sofa the rest of the day and watch Lifetime for Women."
-- Jenny Swap video games for Tae Bo and ESPN for Lifetime, and this plan just might work.

"I personally make myself go to the gym to help sweat out the alcohol... although I'm not really sure if it actually does come out faster, the whole process of drinking the Gatorade and working out makes me feel better. Of course, there have been occasions where that just ain't gonna happen, and unfortunately the only thing that seems to work is OTC drugs and rest. Sigh…" -- Carla I can't imagine exercising in my weakened condition, but you sound very brave.

Well, I hope that helps if you're suffering for last night's indiscretions, but remember: Drink responsibly, practice prevention and if you're using these hangover cures on a daily basis, it may be time to try the Betty Ford hangover prevention plan.

Cheers!

What are your sure-fire hangover healing tips? Do you have a wacky recipe or crazy concoction that cures a hangover in no time? Right now, I'm willing to try anything, so don't be shy -- let's hear 'em!

Labels: holidays, tips

Labels: fun, holidays

Labels: celebrity, fun, holidays, kids

Labels: food, fun, holidays, relationships

Everywhere you look is some savvy advertiser suggesting what to get your sweetheart, but it can be tough to sift through the slick ads to find what to really get your baby this February 14th.

As your man scrambles to come up with the perfect gift to make you smile on Valentine's Day, you wait in eager anticipation of a day that -- let's be completely honest here -- is strictly for the ladies. But you know he's going all out, so what can you get him? How about rewarding his preparations by taking care of the reservations on V-day?

If waiting an hour to get seated in a crowded, noisy restaurant only to be overcharged for mediocre tasting, fat-laden food doesn't sound like the way you want to spend your Valentine's Day, then try this excellent, easy recipe that will stimulate the senses and stir your appetite… for love.

Not only will he appreciate the money saved, but the food will be healthy and delicious, as well as served by his favorite beauty in an intimate setting only steps away from your final destination -- the bedroom. Or, invite him into the kitchen and get cooking together (wink, wink).

Check out this fabulous recipe for Artichoke Hearts Salad, Beef Tenderloin with Dried Cherry-Wine Sauce and Sparkling Wine Poached Pear and impress your partner with your amazing culinary skill. The fastest way to a man's heart is still through his stomach, so check out this video featuring eDiets' very own Director of Nutrition Services, Pam Ofstein, to heat things up this Valentine's Day.

Even if you're going solo for this day of love, you can whip up this simple recipe and treat yourself to something special. You deserve it!

Artichoke Hearts Salad

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup artichoke hearts
2 oz. roasted red peppers
2 Tbsp. salad dressing, low-fat or nonfat

Directions:
Dice red peppers and toss with artichokes and dressing. Serve.

Beef Tenderloin with Dried Cherry-Wine Pan Sauce

Ingredients:
4 oz. red wine
4 tbsp. dried cherries
1 Tbsp. jam
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. canola oil
6 oz. beef, loin cut
1/2 tsp. cornstarch
3 Tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp. unsalted butter

Directions:
Combine wine, dried cherries, jam and Dijon mustard in small bowl; set aside. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over low heat for 2 minutes. Cut the tenderloin into slices; sprinkle with pepper if desired.

Increase heat to medium and place tenderloin in pan; cook about 3-4 minutes each side or until starting to brown. Remove tenderloin from pan; set aside keeping warm. Stir in wine mixture to same pan, scraping the pan to loosen browned bits. Increase to high heat; bring sauce to a boil and cook until reduced about half. Dissolve cornstarch in water.

Turn heat down to medium and whisk cornstarch into sauce until smooth; cook an additional minute. Remove from heat and stir in butter with whisk. Pour sauce over tenderloin to serve.

Note: We recommend a port wine or other sweet red wine. Raspberry or cherry jam will work well for this recipe, but you can also use strawberry.

Sparkling Wine Poached Pear

Ingredients:
2 small pears
5 Tbsp. sparkling wine
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves

Directions:
Peel and core pears. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each pear to form a base for the pear to stand on. Place the pears upright in a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven. Pour the sparkling wine and juice over the pears. Sprinkle on cinnamon and cloves to taste (recommend starting with 1/8 tsp. of cinnamon and a dash of cloves). Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until pears are tender. Serve warm.

Nutrition facts: Calories 446, calories from fat 95, carbs 55g, fat 10.93g (3.5 saturated), fiber 10g, protein 23g, sugar 24g, cholesterol 60mg, sodium 181mg.

Now get cooking! Happy Valentine's Day!

Labels: cooking, food, fun, holidays, relationships, video

When it comes to the mysterious heart-shaped holiday known as Valentine's Day, there are two kinds of people in this world: those that love it (read: women in relationships) and those that hate it (read: everyone else). I associate with the latter.

It's not because I'm single this V-Day and will spend it alone in my basement listening to Michael Bolton ballads -- crying quietly to myself -- and watching a Julia Roberts marathon with my cat while eating enough chocolate to choke Count Chocula (like last year).

No, being single on this unhappiest of holidays is actually a blessing in disguise for those of us forced by corporate America to shell out big bucks to prove to our "special lady" just how extra-special she is.

Why? Well, let me explain what this chocolate-covered holiday means to a man in a relationship -- from real-life, prior experience. Prepare to be wooed.

First of all, financially I'm still reeling from the holiday spend-a-thon that is Christma-Hannu-Kwanza, and to be honest, all of my ideas for thoughtful, breathtaking gifts have already been used. I'm a little depressed because football season has just ended and I don't even realize it's cheesy card day until it's too late. (When I see the receptionist at work get flowers from her new boyfriend, I realize what day it is -- and panic ensues...)

I leave work early to get you a card with some sappy sentiment, like a picture of a kitten pawing a paper heart that reads: "You're my Puuurrrr-fect Valentine!" (shudder)

Then I grab some chocolate in hopes that you'll be too busy eating chocolate-covered cherries to yell at me because I'm taking you to Bennigan's instead of having reservations at that French place you love -- that I can't pronounce.

The roses I bring are the bottom of the barrel. Literally. They were the last bunch. I come to pick you up and have already spent over $100 on wilted flowers, overpriced chocolate, a teddy bear that says, "I wuv you," plus, the obligatory Hallmark "I (heart) you" card.

You pretend to be surprised by exceptionally generic gifts -- and I feel your disappointment. Unless, of course, we're still in high school, then red roses, candy and teddy bears are great gifts! You can also wear my letterman jacket if it gets cold!

Bennigan's, here we come...

It's a two-hour wait when we get there; we sit uncomfortably and look at the floor. According to most industry insiders, this is one of the two busiest days of the year for restaurants. So we wait. Three hours and a maxed-out Visa later, we arrive back home.

You had one too many glasses of wine at dinner and now, well, you've passed out face down on the bed. I try to wake you for a little holiday lovin', but it's too late for that. I take your shoes off and think to myself, "I can still catch the late edition of SportsCenter -- score!"

Thank St. Valentine this day's over.

That's what it's like for both parties involved -- second-rate seduction that leaves everyone disappointed. Ask any man and he'll tell you, Valentine's Day is a scam.

For example, please explain Cupid to me. Who thinks giving an infant a bow and arrow is a good idea? Archery is fun, yes, but I would think it should be reserved for the potty-trained. And how exactly is it representative of romance? I can't think of anything more impractical than a baby in a dirty diaper with a primitive weapon. What kind of example does this give the youth of America? It's a wonder no one's been hurt yet.

But love can be dangerous, so maybe that's the connection. More dangerous than a baby with a bow? I don't know, but I'd rather leave that question to be pondered hypothetically by future scholars.

I'm not slamming love -- it's great when it's good. I am, however, against the way it's been bastardized by corporate America to make men crazy and women jealous and depressed, like there's this standard of love that can be measured in material gifts given.

Don't tell me how to love. It comes in many forms and shows up in the most unpredictable places. Expecting to focus your love into one "perfect day" is absurd and asinine. Try showering your partner in love, affection and attention the rest of the year, and ignore this corporate concoction created to sell heart-shaped chocolate, flowers and corny cards.

This year, I'll be celebrating my singleness, but that doesn't mean that I'll be spending a loveless holiday in my basement with Bolton and a box of chocolates. No, the love I'll be celebrating will be the love I have for a well-aged scotch, a rare steak and a few good friends.

And if you see a chubby cherub running around with archery equipment, watch your wallet. Cupid stole my cash, don't let it happen to you.

Shawn McKee graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Journalism and has written for The Broward and Miami New Times. He loves cheese fries, cheap beer and classy women -- he is very romantic.

Labels: fun, holidays, relationships

Pam Ofstein, eDiets Director of Nutrition Services, was kind of enough to be my partner in this Valentine's Day couples' workout.

Perform each exercise, then move to the next one. Try to complete the circuit (all exercises) twice.

Couples' Lunge and Reverse Lunge
1. You get double your money with this exercise. Begin by facing your partner while holding each others' hands with arms slightly elevated.

2. Pam takes a forward long lunge with her left leg, while I perform a reverse lunge with my right leg. Alternate legs with each rep. Keep your body straight during both movements, and don't let your opposing knee touch the floor. Perform 12 reps on each leg.

After completing 12 reps, the person performing the reverse lunge then performs the forward lunge, and the person performing forward lunges will switch to reverse lunges. Lunges will work the quadriceps, hamstrings and the butt. Support your partner by keeping your hands and arms elevated and by giving them words of encouragement.

Couples' Squat
1. Begin by facing your partner while holding each others' hands, with arms slightly elevated. Feet should be shoulder-width apart.

2. Lower by bending at the hips and knees to a parallel squat. It's important to stick your butt out while lowering -- almost as if you're about to sit in a chair.

Rise back up to the starting position and repeat. Perform 15 reps. Squats work the quadriceps, hamstrings and butt.

Interlocking Crunches
1. Begin by lying on a mat with your feet and ankles interlocked. This will provide support for your partner.

2. Place your hands crossed over your chest and perform an abdominal crunch. Support your partner by telling them to keep his eyes straight up and not to bend his neck. Perform 15 reps.

Chest Press
Both partners shoulder stagger their feet so one leg is behind and one leg in front. Bring hands up to chest level and place the bottom of your hands against the hands of your partner. Now each of you should slowly push right and left as each partner provides just a bit of resistance. This is great for the chest, shoulders and arms. Perform the movement for 40 seconds. Look directly in your partner's eyes while performing the exercise and keep your torso facing forward -- don't twist your upper body.

Shoulder Press
One person will begin on their knees. Bend arms at the elbow 90 degrees and make fists. Partner stands behind and provides the slightest resistance by pressing down with the palms as the person kneeling presses upward. The goal of the person kneeling is to perform a full shoulder press with resistance. Perform 10 reps, then switch.

Hamstring Stretch

Lay flat on a mat with knees bent. As you raise one leg, your partner will place his hand on your ankle and gently stretch your leg towards your upper torso. This should be performed with very little pressure, and your lower back should not come up off the mat. Hold for 30 seconds and switch legs.

Celebrate Your Victory!

Oh, and guys? Please give your honey a Valentine's gift that's thoughtful and meaningful. Otherwise, the remainder of 2008 will look like this:

Happy Valentines Day!

A drug-free competitive bodybuilder and winner of the prestigious WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation) Pro Card, Raphael Calzadilla is a veteran of the health-and-fitness industry. He specializes in a holistic approach to body transformation, nutrition programs and personal training. He earned his B.A. in Communications from Southern Connecticut State University and is certified as a personal trainer with The American Council On Exercise.

Labels: exercise, fun, holidays, relationships, weight-loss, workout

It's a funny thing about a new year... It's like you're getting a clean slate. 2007 has come and gone, and now 2008 holds the promise for a whole new beginning. January 1^st is a time to start fresh, to be your best, to really set your mind to doing the things you want to do.

Do you want to fit in your favorite jeans again? Lose 10, 20 or 100 pounds? Maybe you want reduce stress, get a new job, learn more about wine or keep in touch with friends more. New Year's resolutions can be as big as changing to a whole new, healthier lifestyle to as small as simply getting rid of those pesky piles around the house.

Whatever you decide your New Year's resolutions will be, we look forward to your success. And from all of us at eDiets, happy 2008... and happy new you!

Share your New Year's resolutions by commenting below -- make the promise to change, and we'll make the promise to cheer you on along the way!

Labels: holidays, motivation, weight-loss