I decided to finally try out the Sensa Weight-Loss system that I’ve heard so much about. I actually had the pleasure of hearing Sensa founder Dr. Alan Hirsch speak in LA a couple years ago, and he has some pretty interesting philosophy about smell/taste relationships along with studies to back it up. I’m on the bandwagon!

It’s pretty simple with Sensa — you’re given two “Tastant” shakers for each month, one side for salty foods and one side for sweet foods. These tasteless blends are calorie-free, sodium-free, and sugar-free (though they do contain maltodextrin, soy, and milk ingredients). You sprinkle Sensa on EVERYTHING you eat, with the exception of drinks and soups. One shaker is for for the kitchen and one is for your handbag. It works as a “sensory-specific” appetite suppressant, causing you to feel full before finishing your meal.

You can, too, get started on the Sensa Weight-Loss System by ordering at trysensa.com. I’ll keep you updated! xo

Fortunately I’ve found some ways to counteract bloating, and I wanted to share them with you.

• Chewing gum? Break the habit. It’s ironic that I rarely chew gum, but it’s one of the first things that I purchased out here. Did you know that chewing gum causes you to swallow more air? That air becomes trapped in your stomach temporarily, causing you to bloat. The pleasure I got from chomping on gum was not worth it!
• Drink more water. If your body thinks it’s low on water, it will hold on to it. I’ve been trying to remember to drink more water, especially since it’s so dry out here.
• Pay attention to the foods you eat. A primary antagonist for water retention is SALT. Sodium is in pretty much everything we eat that is not fresh or prepared without it. I’m trying to cut down on processed and fast food intake and drink water throughout the day, especially with my meals.If you, like me, have some intolerance of lactose or dairy products, it may be helpful to…
• Take an acidophilus supplement. I’ve been taking acidophilus for a couple months now and I’m pleased with how it works.  Poor digestion of dairy from foods can lead to bloating. Acidophilus helps to stimulate healthy bacterial growth in your digestive tract which helps regulate digestion. It can be found in foods like yogurt and kimchee, but for me it’s easier to take it in supplement form. Fortunately I brought some acidophilus along for my trip.
• Get your fill of B vitamins. A B-complex supplement will help process and metabolize the foods you eat, which can relieve water retention. You can find B-complex in drugstores; I usually stock up at CVS. Also, vitamin B-6 taken by itself relieves hormone-related bloating (B-6 has always been my secret weapon for PMS).
• Eat more slowly. I didn’t know eating slowly and taking time between bites keeps you from swallowing excess air, but I read that it does.

I feel sort of like a hypochondriac in that every little thing that’s “wrong” with me, I’m hopping on my laptop to do research on how to remedy the issue.

This was my face yesterday, then today. I’ve definitely lost some water retention, mostly by drinking lots of water.

Naturally I want to look my best, so bloating is no bueno! Hope these tips will help you, too.

Best Skin, Hair and Weight-loss Supplements

A prettier, healthier you is just a pill away, our readers say — but not all really work

Turns out, not all beauty products are topical. In fact, there are plenty of pills and drinks that claim to help your skin, hair and even help you lose weight. But do they work? Well, some do. Here, our readers share which ones actually deliver results — and one that wasn’t worth the money.

See supplements

No. 8: Arbonne Go3 Fizzing Beverage Tablet, $28

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7

“I found that it did give me energy and curb hunger as it promised. I used this product in combination with other Figure 8 products and lost over 40 lbs. in two months …”

No. 7: Murad Pure Skin Clarifying Dietary Supplement, $42

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7.8

“I have seen such a major improvement in my skin. … I am finally seeing a breakthrough with these pills. My cystic acne is no longer an issue!”

No. 6: Borba Clarifying Aqua-less Crystalline, $100

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8

“They really cleared up my skin pretty nicely, also made it less oily! I love the flavor too!”

Want to see what’s no. 1? Click here!

My best bud James, who happens to be a fitness buff, once advised me that you can actually lose weight by eating a deliciously greasy, carb-y meal every once in a while. I put it to the test over the weekend when we met up at Steak & Shake for a late night breakfast. The Sourdough Breakfast combo was the greasiest thing I’d eaten in a while — so much so that I was still feeling it the next day. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling! Nonetheless, midday the day after our carbfest I stepped on the scale and had actually lost 1.5 pounds. Whether or not that was conclusive of James’ theory, it worked! I couldn’t believe it.

After that I resumed my diet of eating at home (turkey burgers, lean ribs, fruit, etc). Last night James & I had another carbfest at Gameworks and shared potato skins and Tex Mex rolls. Today –sure enough — I stepped on the scale to see that I’d lost another 0.5 pounds.

So, can you lose weight by binge eating? Maybe so. I think the key, if you’re trying to lose or even maintain your weight, is to eat healthy on most days and stay at or below the number of calories it takes for your weight/lifestyle to lose weight.

I have had friends who hit up the gym everyday and complained that they seemed to have stopped losing weight. These same friends were eating takeout everyday and stashing junk food in their desk at work. Despite being a gym rat, you will not lose weight if you’re not eating healthfully on a regular basis. “Cheating” or binge-eating should occur every once in a while, not everyday. If all you eat is sugar/carbohydrates, your body will burn just those calories and not the stubborn fat you’re trying to lose.

What works for you when it comes to weight loss/toning up? I could use more inspiration!

There are things that war against that number on the scale, including unforeseen water weight gained after, say, a few large dinners or a night out drinking. When it comes to water weight, it can actually account for 5-15 extra pounds on your body! This is especially true if you eat a diet rich in simple carbs – chips, fast food, full-sugar sodas, and so much more. Besides cutting back on the junk, drinking lots of CLEAN fluids like water and tea can help you keep excess water weight off.

Not all teas are created equal. On of my favorites right now is “Get Lost” weight control red tea – a caffeine-free herbal tea containing rooibos and cinnamon as well as carob and gymnema. Rooibos is a naturally detoxifying and energizing herb that also alleviates anxiety, allergies, *and* zits! Carob and gymnema are natural appetite suppressants.

The natural cinnamon/orange peel flavor is delicious. I pour just a bit of Splenda or stevia in it and I’m good to go. I drink about four cups of this tea a day and – I will say – I’m relieving myself throughout the day much more frequently! If you don’t mind having to explain yourself in the office or on the job, you’re golden In the past week I’ve lost 5 pounds and eat less at each sitting. Detoxification is a glorious thing.

“Get Lost” weight control tea by The Republic of Tea is available for $11 (36 tea pods) via Amazon.com.

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No, she doesn’t take diet pills. Hayden works out with her personal trainer, Jonathan Bernan, at Crunch Gym in West Hollywood. She uses the Stairmaster, resistance training, circuit training, and lifts weights to stay “feeling good.” (source: USAToday)

Hayden Panettiere’s Diet Trick

“I’m a picker,” Hayden says, “I will eat a quarter of my meal, and then I’ll get full, so I’ll sit there, and then 20 minutes later I’ll eat the other quarter…”

It’s all about portion control.

Watch the video to hear Hayden Panettiere talk about her workout and diet tips:

If you crave:	Your body needs:
Chocolate	Magnesium (raw nuts, fresh fruits)
Bread or toast	Nitrogen (high protein foods including fish, chicken, steak, and beans)
Salty foods	Chloride (fish, sea salt (healthier than table salt)
Greasy foods	Calcium (broccoli, cheese, calcium-fortified milk)
Ice (to chew)	Iron (seaweed, black cherries, fish)

For more healthy alternatives to your food cravings, check out 2nd Wind Body Science’s list.

While we’re on the topic of food, check out some of these Thanksgiving recipes.

When you are trying to lose weight, don’t cut carbs from your diet completely. Complex carbohydrates including green veggies and oatmeal tend to be more filling without being loaded with calories.

This is what I usually order:

a double tall sugarfree cinnamon dulce skinny latte, no whip

What does all this mean?

• Double tall – Order an extra shot of caffeine for a jolt of energy, tension muscle ache relieve (long days at the office!), and to quicken your metabolism. I order the tall-sized latte to cut calories and coins spent.
• Sugarfree – Says, “No refined sugar, please!” If your latte tastes bland per this request, add Splenda or cane sugar to taste.
• Skinny – Says, “Nonfat milk, please!” Alternatively you could order a soy latte for added protein and lactose-free energy, but soy milk is 50 cents extra.
• No whip – Hold the whipped cream. I don’t want or need the added sugar!

How do you order your Starbucks drink?

It becomes necessary to judge portions for yourself to control your caloric intake.

Portion Control

• Order a tall latte instead of the venti. If you need more caffeine, order a double tall, or an extra shot of espresso.
• A large pizza suits a group of 4 or 5. Two slices of pie-cut pizza is enough for a single person.
• Limit yourself to one dinner roll per meal.
• If you’re having a bagel, split it with a friend. Commercial bagels are two, sometimes three times the size they used to be.
• If your weakness if fast food, order a kiddie meal instead of a regular meal. You could easily cut calories in half this way.
• Use a small bowl for cereal, the smallest you can find.
• Carbs like white rice or mashed potatoes should take up less than a quarter of your plate. Aim to eat only 1/2 cup of starchy carbs per meal

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