Nothing says summer, summer, summertime quite like a refreshing cocktail (or a Will Smith song), but we all know that sippin’ our calories away poolside leads to a not-so-cute looking backside (or all-around side). Many of our favorite friendly cocktails come along with a heaping helping of calories. And with all those hidden, tempting, pink and fruity calories, it sure gives a WHOLE new meaning to drinking responsibly.

But who says you can’t have your Sangria and sip it too?! Not I. Because this weeks body blog is all about finding the healthy balance between keeping cool with fun refreshments and looking bootylicious in your bikini.

Here are a few of my favorite healthier summer cocktails and bevvy’s! Including a delicious sans-alcohol option for a super low cal iced tea!

Sangria

Sangria can normally be made with lots of sugar- but swap that with a can of fresca (or lemon flavored stevia for those of you like me who don’t use artificial sweetners) and you have yourself a delicious and guilt-free treat!

Red Sangria:

Just slice up 4 apples and 3 oranges. Combine fruit with 1 pound red grapes, halved; 3 bottles light-to medium-bodied red wine; 1 can Fresca (or any diet lemon soda); and 1 can club soda. Chill mixture, and serve over ice for 16 servings of scrumptiousness.

Each serving has only 173 calories—that’s 125 calories saved per glass!!

White Sangria:

Combine 8 peaches and 4 white plums pitted and sliced with 1 pound of green grapes cut in half. Mix in with 3 bottles of Prosecco, a 12 ounce can of diet lemon/lime soda (or lemon flavored stevia drops!) and a 12 ounce can of club soda. Toss all the ingredients together and chill for at least 1 hour. Serve over ice.

Blackberry Vodka and Lemonade:

Vodka and Lemonade go together like MK & Ash Olsen- A fabulous pairing! But not when you think about the sugar that usually comes in the store-bought lemonade you dump into your vodka. Here is a lighter and healthier version- and I love the blackberry twist! Yummy!

• 2 ounce yuzu juice

• 1 ounce lime juice

• 1 ounce lemon juice

• 1 ounce agave nectar

• 3 ounce vodka

• 1 handful of muddled blackberries

ICED MINT GREEN TEA:

We all know how great green tea is for us- and because of that, I’m standing by this bevvy even though it has a li’l sumthin’ sumthin’ to spruce it up!

• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

• 3 green tea bags

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 4 cups boiling water

• 2 cups sake, divided

• 4 stalks lemongrass, for garnish

Combine mint leaves, tea bags, honey and boiling water. Let steep for 5 minutes; remove tea bags. Refrigerate until chilled. Divide among 4 large ice-filled glasses. Add 1/2 cup sake to each glass. Garnish with a stalk of lemongrass. To keep it PG and lower in cals, omit the sake!

This bad boy only has 76 cals per drink and if you go the sans sake route- a measly 36! I’ll take thirds please!

Slushy Watermelon Mojitos:

• 5 cups cubed seeded watermelon

• 1 cup sparkling water, chilled

• 3/4 cup white rum

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

• 1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, undiluted

• Mint sprigs (optional)

• Lime slices (optional)

Arrange watermelon in a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze 2 hours or until completely frozen. Combine frozen watermelon, sparkling water, rum, mint, and limeade in a blender; process until smooth. Garnish with mint sprigs and lime slices, if desired. Serve immediately. At only 119 calories per serving, feel free to indulge in two!

It’s a new year, and you know what that means; it’s time to start working on those New Year’s resolutions. But before you start jotting down those promises take a minute and really think about this. New Year’s resolutions almost always involve giving something up, and making sacrifices. And that negative approach makes you all the less likely to keep them. Not fun  and definitely not productive. So instead, I’m offering you something a little bit different. Ten New Year’s resolutions that are actually attainable.

And even better, ten New Year’s resolutions you’ll actually want to keep.

10. Be more organized. In order to make any of your other way more interesting New Year’s resolutions happen you should probably commit to this one. Get a planner, or if you prefer, use a Google calendar, or your BlackBerry. (Or I’m sure there’s and iPhone app for that.) Keep track of dates. Make lists. Write down your goals. If you know what you want it’s so much easier to make it happen.

9. Do something you’ve always wanted to do. Everyone has a bucket list, something they’ve always wanted to do but have never had the time, the nerve or the money. This year, make it your resolution to make it happen. Get a tattoo. Learn to speak French. Have sex in the stacks. Whatever it is you’ve always wanted to do, make it happen.

8. Enjoy your family and your friends. We college girls live pretty busy lives, and that makes it difficult to stay in touch with people, even some of the people that matter most. This year, try not to let that happen. Make an effort to do more than just Facebook comment. If being in the same pace at the same time isn’t an option, try a Skype session. Or something they use to do way back when – a phone call.

7. Step outside of your comfort zone. I’ve already told you to do something you’ve always wanted to do. Now I’m telling you to do something you’d never thought you’d do. Grab a friend and go sky diving, or you know, skip a class if that’s more on your level. Just do something different.

6. Make healthier choices. Every year women makes resolution after resolution about losing weight, cutting out the carbs, and exercising every single day. But crash diets don’t work, and denying yourself something only makes you want it more. That doesn’t mean you should live off of Cherry Garcia and Raman noodles either, though. So start small. Exercise three times a week. Switch to whole wheat breads. Limit your ice cream intake to one night a week. Just make simple, healthier choices.

5. Stop counting calories. So now that you’re making healthier choices, one of the best resolutions you can make is to stop counting calories. It’s tedious and impossible to keep up with and takes all the enjoyment out of going for drinks or eating out. So stop with the calorie counting. You’re making healthier choices and that’s the more important thing.

4. Find some fabulous female role models. Nothing against, LiLo and co. but most of the women that are in the spotlight these days aren’t exactly role models. So start searching. Find some old school actress, some kickass women in the political sector, some awesome business women. Or even someone you already know. (Hi, Mom.) Get inspired by their accomplishments and set your own goals to work towards.

3. Splurge on something extravagant. Well, maybe not so much splurge, but rather save up for it. Instead of spending that hard earned money or that quickly pocketed holiday cash on little things, save it up for something substantial. Then, three months, six months, nine months, or even a year from now you’ll have the money saved when you really, really want something. Like those cute boots, that new i-Pod, or if you’re really ambitious, that new laptop. So save first, and then splurge.

2. Focus on you. A little shallow? Maybe. But also just a little bit necessary, and completely attainable. Stop the distraction and make sure you indulge in a little me time every now and then. Go for a manicure. Take a bubble bath. Shut off your cell phone for an hour. Everyone needs a little time to recharge. And after some rest and relaxation it will make it so much easier to focus on everything else that needs to be done.

1. Enjoy yourself. All the time. Alright, so the “all the time” part might not really be all that attainable. (I mean, you can’t exactly be expected to enjoy yourself during a three hour lecture.) But you should try to enjoy yourself whenever you can it. Be a little irresponsible. Do things you probably shouldn’t because you’re in college and you can. It will be over before you know it (Spoken as a second semester senior.), so enjoy it while you can.

What are your resolutions this year?

I’ve resisted buying the iPhone for three reasons.

A) It’s freakin expensive.
B) EVERYONE has one and, well, I just don’t want to be like everyone else.
C) If my boss was to find out I have internet access at all times, she will think it’s OK to email me outside office hours.

But recently I spent hours, yes hours, playing with my friend’s iPhone: I visited FMyLife.com, I Facebook-stalked, I discovered there are health and fitness applications! It was the most fun I’ve ever had.

So before I bite the bullet and buy one of these suckers, I want to share my fave nutrition and fitness-related apps with you.

1) The LIVESTRONG.com Calorie Tracker
If you’re like me and often find yourself looking up the calorie content in everything, this one is for you. Not only does it help keep track of your daily calorie intake, but you can also see how many calories you’ve burned throughout the day.

2) Restaurant Nutrition
This one is a little scary, especially if you tend to hit up Chili’s too much. It provides you with nutritional information for 37 popular chain restaurants. So before you order that bacon cheeseburger, check your iPhone. You may want to pass.

3) Weightbot
So cute (!) and apparently one of the most popular apps. When you launch it, you enter your height, weight loss goal, and the date you want to reach it by. Then each day, you enter your weight and it will calculate your BMI. It basically just helps you see your weight loss progress so you can stay on track and not forget about your goals.

4) iFitness
A personal trainer on my phone? Hell yea. From the home screen, you can access specific exercises, workouts, and pre-set routines. Once you get to the exercise screen, the real fun happens: you can browse exercises per muscle group or individual muscle. An actual series of images will show you how to perform each movement. And finally, you can create your own workout. Pretty sweet.

5) RunKeeper
For all you serious runners, bikers, and hikers, this app will be especially useful. It allows you to track your distance, speed, and pace (among other things) with the iPhone’s built-in GPS. But if you’re a casual runner, this one won’t do much for you — check out the next one.

6) Fitnio
This aerobic tracking app is the most simple. Similarly to RunKeeper, it allows you to track your distance, your speed, and your calorie burn, but is much easier to understand and use. I’d probably go with this one if your new to cardio…or just too lazy to figure out the more difficult application.

As I sit writing this, I even see 6-year-olds playing with an iPhone.
That’s it. I’m getting one today. I’ll report back with my level of satisfaction/calories burned.

Yup, that’s right! At mixmygranola.com, you choose every single thing that goes into your very own special mix.

How does it work? There are four easy steps:

First, you pick your base (options are organic granola, french vanilla granola, organic muesli and low fat granola), and then you can add in dried fruits (I chose dried mangos, bananas and raspberries…yum!) and nuts (omega-3 rich flax seeds for me). To top it off, if you want to add some treats to the mix, pick from “extras” such as gummy bears, yogurt covered pretzels and chocolate chips.

And that’s all! Just click to order and within a few days, you’ll have a (large) container of ready-to-go granola. Mine came within two days after I placed the order and I must say, it is delicious. It even has the exact nutritionals for my personalized mix pasted right on the side so I know exactly what I’m eating, unlike when I pour a fatty bowl of the stuff in the caf. I just measure the stuff into single serving plastic baggies and grab and go on my way to class. Easy, healthy, delicious.

OMG I’m so in love. And you can start your very own love affair with mixmygranola. CollegeCandy linked up with the men behind the blend and are giving a $25 gift certificate to a very lucky granola-lovin’ CollegeCandy reader. Just tell us, in the comments below, what your ideal granola combo would be and we’ll pick a winner. You have until 5pm on Tuesday, April 14th to get your entry in. We’ll announce the winner on Wednesday, April 15th.

Yay granola!

[Jill has been dabbling in the 4 Day Diet and sharing her journey with us. We saw her first week and the challenges she faced on week 2. Here, she shares her recent diet tribulations.]

This week started out great. I made a pump-me-up playlist and have been hitting the gym like nobody’s business. I’ve pushed myself to run that extra few minutes or try a new machine; I may or may not have even snuck in a workout of dancing in my apartment, underwear on, microphone (hairbrush) in hand. Hey, a calorie burned is a calorie burned, my friends, and burning calories to “We Built this City on Rock and Roll” is just a lot more fun than an extra squat.

However, as the week continued, I discovered what I didn’t like about this diet and why I have never liked diets in the past that tell you what to eat day by day. While I enjoy the food suggested for each daily plan, there are no options or guidelines for situations where those foods aren’t available. And let’s not forget that outside of diet books, real life happens.

So even if you try to be good and make comparable substitutions, you end up feeling like a failure  when you didn’t follow the diet exactly and, at the end of the week, your weight hasn’t changed.

This week was very much like that; between two birthday parties, a Grammy party, and a goodbye party for a co-worker, it was hard to find foods that fit what was on my daily plan. I tried to think of alternatives to a bowl of beans or some almonds, but the book doesn’t tell you how to handle real-life situations when the food choices are out of your control.

So, inevitably, you make bad choices (even though you tried so hard!) and throw the entire week of work out the window. Working hard for no results? Probably the most frustrating thing ever.

I did the best I could and tried to make the most similar swaps (with the exception of a cookie dough ball bite; I mean, you just can’t say no to those), but I still felt frustrated and annoyed at the end of the week.

I’m feeling a little less than excited about the 4 Day Diet today, but I refuse to give up. So, I turn to you, dear readers. What are your tips for planning around events where you can’t control the food situation?

So what does this mean?

Chocolate every day? Check.

Cocktails? Check.

Cheese, chocolate cake, biscuits, avocado, whole milk, chips, and sorbets? Check, check, and check.

This “no-diet diet” allows you to enjoy the foods you love that are usually condemned by the common fad diets that we occassionally follow. Or try to follow, at least. But lemon water, cabbage soup, and a crate full of bananas just aren’t realistic methods of losing weight in the long run. Blum advises us to forget our traditional beliefs of what good foods and bad foods are, and focus on the nutritional qualities of each food instead.

On food:

Fat is good; we need cholesterol and certain saturated fats to make and regulate our hormones, so we can avoid depression and even cancer. Quality trumps quantity in importance, Blum stresses, so certain “fabulous fats” found in nuts, seeds, and olive oil should be ingested at every meal, while “frankenfats” such as those in low-fat, low-cholesterol spreads and margarines should be banned from your diet to ward off headaches and and joint aches. Eat egg yolks in conjunction with egg whites, and don’t say no to that little voice in your head that screams for a smear of hot butter on warm toast. Starchy foods like rice, beans, and corn are also good for you, as well as the occasional cocktail, as long as there’s no sugar.

On exercise:

Like most nutritionists, Blum says skipping meals is a big no, and exercising is a definite yes. But exercise should be considered “an opportunity, not a punishment,” so only do the things you really enjoy doing, like gardening, walking, or even pole dancing (for those of us who are a bit more risqué).

On sun:

You should also make sure you get at least 15 minutes of sun exposure at least three times a week for the vitamin D benefits, without sunscreen. This may alarm those who slather SPF 90 on themselves like   Martha Stewart slathers icing on a cake (and my dermatologist, to be sure), but Blum argues that most cancers are caused by lack of vitamin D.

On other stuff:

Other important nutrients include calcium, magnesium, primrose oil, borage oil, and milk thistle, all of which can be purchased as supplements to help suppress appetite and maintain healthy organ function (not to mention relieve those nasty PMS cramps).

Some foods are banned from the diet, however, including pasteurized milk, soy, white flour, and water drunk from plastic bottles.

So…will you try the no-diet diet? Or is it a no-go for you?

So imagine my own surprise when I found myself buying a copy of Dr. Ian Smith’s new “diet” The Four Day Diet last week.

Fact is, these past two years, I have been in a constant fight with my weight. It goes up 5 pounds it goes down 4 it goes up 3 it goes down 1. It fluctuates more than Christina Aguilera’s voice on any given song. I can’t seem to successfully lose and keep off these last couple of pounds. Even though I do eat pretty healthy. Even though I workout 5-6 days a week. Even though I know the importance of complex carbs. And lots of veggies. And fiber. Oh boy do I know about fiber. I’ve read it all – I know the spiels.

So after realizing that complaining about the lack of results doesn’t do me any good and just makes those around me more miserable, I decided that I wanted to do something to give my body (and my metabolism) the real kick in the ass that it needs. Something to get back on track, clean my act up a bit to start seeing progress again. I know it’s cliché to start some sort of weight loss resolution in January, but here it goes. I’m trying it out. And blogging about it for you here.

The 4 Day Diet drew me in because it seems simple. And it’s just that- only 4 days. Well, 4 days at a time. There are 7 modules each lasting for only 4 days. Surely I can stick to something for 4 days! It works out perfectly: just when you get sick of eating one way you switch it up.

The 4-day modules are:

Induction (detox/cleansing)

Transition (to reintroduce all food groups)

Protein Stretch (to avoid plateaus)

Smooth (when you can have some formerly forbidden foods like pizza and French fries)

Push (the sprint just before the final stretch, back to a stricter eating plan)

Pace (a comfortable module for you to catch your breath)

Vigorous (the final module to lose those last few pounds)

The whole point of the program is to work on specific tools to build a lasting weight loss. The diet is based on clean whole foods (no calorie counting) and changes up your food and workout routines to keep your body guessing. And unlike most weight loss programs, the first 7 chapters are dedicated to getting your mind in the right place.

So here I go again… I’ll be updating every week as I move through the various modules. Hopefully I can help you (and me!) to get motivated, get inspired, and to share your own trials, tribulations and sucess stories as well.

Forget your regularly scheduled Wednesday night TV. It’s Obama (half) hour!

The tabloids are all over Jennifer Hudson.

The economy for dummies.

You don’t have to break the bank on a winter coat…

Fad diets are out. Calorie counting is back, bitches.

I have a feeling Brad isn’t cheating on Angelina…

PETA really hates the Olsens….

Some people think drinking too much is unattractive.

Our newest eye shadow obsession.

These Halloween costumes make us barf.

Yikes, that doesn’t look appetizing.

Let’s be honest: when I get home at the end of a long day of work and classes and studying, the last thing I want to do is whip up a fancy meal for myself. Sometimes, I just need something fast and simple. But after a few months of take-out and pizza and dining-hall food, I realized that I was sacrificing my waistline for the sake of convenience.

What’s a calorie-counting busy girl to do?

Embrace the frozen entrée. I know, I know. Frozen entrees make me think of my Mom and Weight Watchers and scary-looking meat products in soupy liquids. No thanks.

However, there are some delicious frozen meals out there if you know where to look. The best part? Every last calorie and carb and gram of fat and milligram of sodium is right on the box, so you know exactly what you’re getting. To top it all off, they provide us with something this entire country is severely lacking—portion control. You shouldn’t need a hamburger the size of your head just to feel satisfied—frozen meals are a great way to teach yourself what is considered normal (the measurement for a normal serving of protein is the size of your fist…not your head).

Since I’ve become somewhat of a connoisseur of the frozen meal, I thought I’d round up a few of my favorites, for your thawing pleasure:

1. Go classic. Frozen versions of comfort food are always a safe bet. I like Lean Cuisine, where a decent serving of mac and cheese will only set you back 290 calories, and the cheese ravioli, my personal fav, is 240 calories.

2. Go east. Frozen entrees that mimic Asian or Indian dishes are often full of spices, which do a good job of masking the fact that you’re eating just-thawed noodles. Smart Ones makes a Thai Chicken and Noodles that, if you are tired enough, tastes just like Pad Thai. One full serving is only 260 calories—did someone say dessert?

3. Go healthy. Just about everyone is cashing in on frozen meals, even the health nuts at Kashi (makers of all things bran and dried fruit). They have a decent selection and, unlike their highly caloric granola, you get both nutrition AND low calories. Try the Pesto Pasta, 290 calories.

It’s best to avoid frozen entrees that also include a side and a dessert. Why? Well, for starters, if you’ve ever had your apple crumble bubble over into your honey mustard chicken, you know what I’m talking about. Plus, they add a lot of extra calories. You’re better off getting yourself some Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches and sticking to a one-dish entrée.

Happy microwaving, ladies!

Well, girls, it’s time to REJOICE because Miller Brewing Company has just now caught on to the calorie cutting trend. A 64 calorie beer is set to roll out at the beginning of March.

64 calories! That’s a huge calorie reduction compared to the typical beer.

If you do the math, one standard 12 oz. beer comes in around 150 calories. So, if you drink the forthcoming Miller Genuine Draft Light 64, you can have roughly two and a half beers

for the amount of calories you would typically have in just one can of the normal stuff.

According to the Busines Journal, “The new brew, which contains a mere 64 calories, will be available in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, North Dakota and South Dakota beginning March 1.”

If only they had created this a year ago when I was still in college…Oh well, I’d say a 64 calorie beer is still something to drink to. Cheers!