Question?! Answer: Ask Tuffy Luv. Email Aunt Tuffy at tuffyluvCC [at] gmail [dot] com

Dear Tuffy Luv,

I’m fat. I hate my body. Now what?

Fatty

Dear Girl,

That’s right. I refused to call you Fatty. Because–what the floop?! Girl, you have got to address these issues now before they eat you whole–literally. Look, sometimes people gain weight. But people also lose weight, right? Right. So here’s what you do:

Figure out what’s making you gain weight. Is it the types of foods you’re eating? The amount of food? Or are you not exercising enough?

If it’s a food issue, start reading up on what’s healthy and what’s not. If you know what is good for your body, you’ll want to give it food that makes it run better. Vegetables, whole grains, lean protein–these things can be prepared deliciously, and they’ll make you feel great.

For amount of food, think portion control. At the beginning, weigh your food. I’m not kidding. Read up on portion sizes (from nutritionists and health experts, not crazos) and weigh it until you know what the right amount looks like. Limit yourself to eating only that amount. You might feel hungry at first, but within a week or so, your body will adjust. Most of us are used to overeating–you’ll feel much better when you’re actually eating the right amount.

Exercise is good for everyone. You want cardio AND weights. Find something you like to do (dancing, running, whatever) and make a schedule that has you doing it four times a week. And then stick to it!!! And do NOT reward yourself with food–reward yourself with the knowledge that you’re taking good care of yourself and starting better habits for the future.

And in the meantime, girl, seriously lay off. I’m sure you’re absolutely beautiful just the way you are. It is not healthy to be significantly overweight, but that doesn’t mean you should feel unattractive for it!!! Lots of men like a little extra meat. Don’t slim down for that; slim down because you’ll feel better, and you’ll have fewer health problems as you age. Do it for yourself. And in the meantime, always, always love the body you’ve got. Because that’s you, baby!

Hearts & Skulls,

Tuffy Luv

[lead image via Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock]

Traveling alone and having to eat at restaurants is the worst if you’re a women. At least that’s what CNN and the founder of a new female-only app called “Invite for a Bite” are saying.

This App “solves the problem” of eating out alone when you’re traveling. On the site you can either search for a invite or create one, connecting you with other women in your destination. Now, I’m all for this idea. It’s a great way to meet other travelers or have a local to connect with and learn about a new culture in the process. That’s wonderful.

What isn’t wonderful is how this app depicts women. In the CNN article, founder of another App, called “I Love Your Accent,” Rachelle Peachey says, “When I walk into a restaurant or bar alone, I feel others see me as either a woman out to pick up men or a sad, lonely spinster.” I question if our gender has really advanced when otherwise successful women can’t deal with being out alone. While the App is a good idea — and hey, I might even try it next time I’m traveling along — it does create a crutch.

Eating alone may seem uncomfortable at first, but it doesn’t take long to get used to it. I’m a solo diner if I’m in my home city or if I’m traveling. I like food and I like my independence. Throw the two together and I’m happily sitting alone people watching over dinner by myself. If you’ve ever skipped a meal or felt sad as your crammed McDonald’s into your mouth instead of real food, just because you didn’t want to dine-in alone, I encourage you to try it.

Savour your food, enjoy your own company, and don’t be afraid to order dessert!

Do you like to dine alone? Why or why not?

Leah is just waiting on a piece of paper to say she has her Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto. She just wrapped up working on the Ryerson Review of Journalism. Now she is spending her obscene amount of free time baking tasty cupcakes and hunting for a job (hopefully that pays). Follow her @Elleandbee.

It’s 4/20, and we all know what that means. If you’re indulging today, may your “holiday” be filled with movie marathons and delicious munchies. If you’re not partaking, why not take advantage of the movie marathons and munchies anyway? It’ a win/win situation.

To help you out, we collected recipes for some amazing munchies. You’re welcome!

initiating the gallery...

[Lead image via Ariwasabi/Shutterstock]

I love to cook. I find it so relaxing and fun – it’s one of the best stress relievers for me. But when I’m really busy, I tend to stick to the same few recipes. And that gets boring. I make a lot of chicken, and usually I do a simple lemon chicken recipe that I learned from my grandma. That’s great, but I’m tired of that flavor. This week, I decided to try something new: garlic chicken with white wine sauce.

The best part about this recipe is the fact that it’s one of those dishes that sounds super gourmet, but isn’t tough to make at all. It requires a few more steps and ingredients than my typical lemon chicken, but it’s totally worth it. This recipe is perfect for a weekend evening when you have plenty of time to set aside for cooking, and it makes 4-6 servings, so it’s especially good if you have friends to share it with. Read More »

Beef…it’s what’s for dinner. Or so we thought. ABC News has been investigating the use of a meat filler called Boneless Lean Beef Trimmings, BLBT or pink slime, in seventy percent of ground beef. Oh yeah, and this pink slime is disinfected with ammonia and was previously only sold to cooking oil and dog food suppliers. Um, gross.

J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute, is defending this nasty stuff saying it “is a sustainable product because it recovers lean meat that would otherwise be wasted.” You won’t find a label on packages of ground beef that says it contains pink slime though, so how will you know? You won’t. Janet Riley, senior VP of public affairs for AMI stated, “What are you asking me to put on the label, its beef, it’s on the label, it’s a beef product, it’s says beef so we are declaring … it’s beef.” I personally would like to know if there’s an ammonia lined filler in my beef!

Read More »

Eating food that come straight out of the back of a truck is heavenly. Seriously. Korean barbeque quesadillas, classic Los Angeles street tacos, lobster cut rolls and more delicious delicacies are prepared fresh in a mini-kitchen that’s smaller than my dorm room. More affordable than a gourmet restaurant and not as unhealthy as fast food dollar menu items, those concoctions are a local indulgence for this California girl, and I’m more than happy to support a little culinary creativity while getting some serious bang for my buck.

Some things food truck menus are not: responsible for childhood obesity or more dangerous than marijuana. Yes, both have been suggested recently and, if a new piece of legislature is passed, may soon be acknowledged as true.

Read More »

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Are you shy about food?

My dad used to tell me that any boy who asked me on a second date after taking me to dinner was a keeper because I eat a lot of food in a very unlady-like way. That said, there are certain foods that make me look like more of a dainty lady than others.

Good date food choices: Chicken, steak and other foods that can be cut into small bites and won’t end up all over your face.

Bad foods to eat: All of the following…

Read More »

When I get stressed, I eat. And it’s not salads I crave. Usually I go for carbs, cheese, greasy foods, salty foods or chocolate. And I’m almost always multitasking while I eat. I’m staring at Facebook or Twitter, watching a TV show on Hulu or checking my email. Is this a good thing? Probably not. But I know I’m not alone.

Lots of people, especially college students, share my not-so-great eating habits. We eat on the go, scarfing down food between classes. We eat at weird hours because our schedules are always changing. And as you can probably guess, this isn’t great from a nutrition standpoint. Eating quickly and allowing emotions to motivate your eating habits leads to overeating and overindulging cravings.

Now, more and more nutritionists are suggesting a practice called mindful eating as a way break these habits. So, what is mindful eating? Although it has only become popular recently, mindful eating is by no means new. The concept is rooted in Buddhist philosophy. It’s almost like a kind of meditation involving food. Read More »

When women think of Valentine’s Day, boxed candy, roses and cheesy Hallmark cards from loved ones often come to mind. But let’s be real. The key to any girl’s heart is chocolate. Lots and lots of it. In honor of the anniversary of Hershey’s Chocolate — which was founded on February 9th, 1894 — and to get you to think outside the heart-shaped box this Valentine’s Day, we present to you some positively decadent chocolate-based recipes.

Impress your friends and loved ones with these cheap, easy and incredible treats. Even the most challenged baker can master what we’ve culled here for you! Read More »