Issue Date: September 10, 2006
3 steps to great abs
Everyone wants great abs. I even wrote a whole book about how to get them -- "8 Minutes in the Morning to a Flat Belly." So what's the best way to find your six-pack? I compared notes with David Zinczenko, author of "The Abs Diet: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life" (Rodale Books, $15.95) and editor-in-chief of "Men's Health" magazine. Here are our best recommendations:
1. Eat right. Never skip breakfast, and graze on small meals throughout the day. By regularly eating nutrient-rich foods, you'll crowd out the fat in your diet, and your body will eliminate calories more efficiently.
2. Target multiple muscles with efficient moves. The abdominal region is made up of many muscles, and you'll benefit from working them together. Our favorite time-saving move: the bicycle. Lie on your back, knees bent to 90 degrees, hands lightly touching behind ears. Lift shoulders off the floor, then bring right knee and left armpit together, and then left knee and right armpit. That's one rep. Aim for three sets of 12 reps.
3. Work all of your muscles. That way, you'll become a more efficient fat-burning machine and reduce all over -- including your belly.
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Surefire ways to save a bundle on groceries
SURF FIRST. You can get lots of great manufacturers' coupons and store coupons from your local grocer on sites like Valpak.com. Just plug in your zip code. But be cautious: Some sites ask for lots of personal information before they let you print. And always check first with your grocer, because some no longer accept Internet coupons after getting burned by fraudulent ones. Also, get coupons in local Sunday newspapers.
DON'T BE CONFUSED BY "TWO FOR ONE" OFFERS. If the ad says, "Five for $5," you don't have to buy five items to get the sale price. Want one can of tomatoes? You can get it for $1. Alert the cashier if the item does not automatically scan at the sale price.
WATCH THE SCALE. A bag of carrots may say it's 3 pounds, but prebagged items may weigh a little less or more than labeled. So weigh a couple different bags to get the most for your money.
Be alert at checkout. Keep your eyes on the scanner. In most stores, sale items change every week, and the scanners aren't always up-to-date. If the price scans higher than advertised, some stores will give you the item for free.
Take a rain check. If your grocer has run out of an advertised special, ask for a rain check. This is a written promise to sell you the advertised item at the sale price when it's restocked. Ask that the check be good for the maximum amount available at the sale price, and use it before it expires (usually within 15 days).
Walecia Konrad is an award-winning consumer writer.
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Remodel for an easier life
By remodeling, you can make a home "handicap accessible," but a trend called universal design -- as its name suggests -- goes beyond that. It seeks to make a home easier to live in for everyone.
Universal design includes first-floor master bedrooms to eliminate constant stair climbing, wider door openings for easier passage and curbless shower stalls that minimize the risk of falling.
Also included are door levers instead of door knobs. These are better for older people with arthritic hands, as well as for tiny children just learning to grasp. Come to think of it, those easy-to-open levers come in handy for ordinary parents as they move through their house with their hands full.
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Super shrimp soup
Shrimp is a high-protein, low-fat food. And this soup is super easy.
Shrimp Bisque
1 Tb. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 pound cooked or raw shrimp,tails removed, cut in pieces
2 cups fat-free half-and-half
1 cup no-salt-added tomato sauce
1/4 tsp. hot sauce, or to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tsp. butter
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
In saucepan, heat olive oil. Add red pepper and onion; sauté on low heat until soft, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp, half-and-half, tomato sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heatand simmer 5 minutes. Add butter.
Put 1/2 hot mixture in a blender and carefully process at high speed about 10 to 15 seconds, or until no large pieces remain. Transfer bisque into soup bowls.
Repeat with remaining mixture. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese. Optional garnishes: herbs and additional shrimp.
Serves 6
Per 3/4 cup: 162 calories, 13g protein, 14g carbohydrates, 5g fat (2g saturated),76mg cholesterol, 1g fiber, 290mg sodium
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