2 Years (Katie)

Today is Brandon and my 2-year anniversary. Though he is younger than me, it doesn’t phase us one bit. Like any relationship, we have our ups and we have our downs; we have our laughs and our fights; and we have our smiles and our tears. The first year was smooth sailing compared to this second one, but they both have been amazing and … slightly educational. We have learned a lot about each other and we’re still learning about ourselves. Over the past two years I have graduated high school, got my one of my dream jobs coaching volleyball, got into college, and have now completed my freshman year of college. He has now graduated high school and has also gotten into college.

Brandon supported me unconditionally through a lot of sleepless weeks the first year we dated. I was working two jobs and going to school and he talked to me at 2 a.m. many nights to keep me awake while I finished papers and math problems. He drove with me to many volleyball tournaments and danced to and sang “Believe” by Cher on the way home to keep me awake. He took me to Water World for the first time and we had a blast. When my dogs got out for the first time, and I couldn’t find them, he was there with me every minute trying to find them until we had them all home safe. We watched Bronco and CC Tiger games together, and while he had to teach me a little bit about football before I knew what was going on, I learned to really love to watch it. The first year was also my only chance to get to see him in his natural habitat: the football field. While his team didn’t have a good year, he had a great one. It was really cool to see him so happy doing something. We discovered that we love to cook together and even if the kitchen ended up the biggest flour covered mess ever, we always have fun. We went to a TON of movies that first year. We managed to keep just about every ticket from every movie we went to which Brandon then used to make the coolest thing anyone has ever made me. He took pictures, movie tickets, and other mementos and made them into a collage that hung up above my desk at college. Then there was prom where we had our first dance together. It was the best dance I had ever been to up until this year’s prom. We went hiking, on midnight adventures, shopping, and mini road trips around the state. We celebrated our first Christmas together, our first New Years, Valentine’s Day and birthdays. He held my hand through breakdowns, a tattoo, and a piercing.
This second year has been very hard. We were 140 miles apart while I was in Fort Collins for college and he stayed in Colorado Springs to finish high school. Everyone told me that once I left, we would fall apart. I am so proud to be able to say that we made it through. It was hard, not impossible. This year, before school started, we went to Wyoming and explored Yellowstone National Park together. We went on an accidental 2-hour hike with no water, we found a tiny little attraction (one of the coolest things we saw), we saw a momma bear and her 2 cubs (hands down the coolest thing we saw), and we saw a ton of buffalo. When school started, it was hard to say goodbye. He helped me pack, move in, and shop for the stuff I didn’t know I would need. I held back tears hugging him goodbye and that was that. We saw each other about one weekend a month for the next 10 months with the exception of Christmas. We text non-stop, we always called to say goodnight, and we looked forward to the weekends we got to see each other. He introduced me to HuHot, the best Mongolian grill ever, and it became tradition to eat there every weekend he came up. My favorite day when he came up was when it was our 1-year and some odd amount of months and we made dinner in the dorm kitchen. He helped me study for tests whenever he could by holding up flash cards and quizzing me off of study guides. I owe many good test grades to his help. Then summer came for me. He helped me move back out. I went and watched him graduate and held back tears of happiness.

I love him. Simple as that really. The past 3 paragraphs are just fluff I suppose…but important fluff. I don’t know who else would have held my hand when I put myself through the pain of a tattoo; I don’t know who else would have talked to me on the phone until 2 a.m. when I needed to finish homework; I don’t know who else would deal with me on a daily basis besides him. We’re honest, blunt, stubborn, and loving people who luckily found each other because in the words of his mother “you’re both freaks, that’s are why you’re perfect for each other”.

-Katie

30Something Blessings (Caitlin)

From the 11th to the 14th of this month, I was in Tennessee’s Smokey Mountains with all but one of my mother’s side of the family. We were a little nervous organizing this get together for fear of family drama, but all 30something of us were pleasantly surprised. I have never been in a situation in which I was surrounded by so many people that I actually LIKED! Though I hadn’t seen most of these people in 15 years, if ever, it wasn’t hard to connect. It has grown to become one of my fondest memories.
The four of us (Jared, Caroline (his awesome girlfriend), Mom, and I) took a two hour flight to Tennessee, and then drove from Nashville to our cabin in the mountains. We got ridiculously turned around and explored just about every part of the Smokeys before we found our place. It was so humid I couldn’t believe it, but it caused the terrain to be lush and more beautiful than I could have imagined, so I suffered happily. It looked like a jungle.
Once we arrived, we unpacked, met everyone, and feasted upon Joy’s wonderful dinner. The next three days were a blur. I remember everything, but not chronologically. Every meal was wonderful; I remember Steve’s boiled peanuts, Amanda’s Gumbo, Mom’s Chicken Salad Sandwiches, and Nancy’s Crawfish Linguini. We bought way too much food and all stuffed ourselves. We watched the World Cup and Drunk History (look it up if you haven’t seen it – so funny). We went hiking a few times. We went river tubing, and mini cliff diving. … Okay more like rock diving. It was probably only about 15 feet at its highest point, but it was a big deal for me! We hot tubbed almost every night and stayed up late laughing together. We took a family picture at the end – Posted at the top - Just imagine ALL of us in one house.
There were three little guys, Jack, Emma Grace, and Boyd. These were my cousins’ children. Jack is the one with striking blue eyes that makes an undeniably adorable collection of sounds. Emma Grace was the oldest of the three, and is a beautiful, spunky little girl. I didn’t see her upset once during the entire trip, she’s a little angel. Boyd is a badass in the making. He walks like he’s on a mission, but has got a stare that will melt anyone’s heart. I’ve never fallen in love with children so deeply and so quickly, but I suppose there’s something about family that makes everything different.

I could have used a little extra time to really get to know everyone, but I had a great time. I got over my fear of heights when I went flailing off those rocks, I saw lightning bugs for the second time in my life, and I found out how to do boiled peanuts the RIGHT way. I decided for a fact that I want children one day, learned about my grandparents and family history, and giggled myself through the entire trip. The best part was seeing mom so happy. Seeing the relief pour over each of us as we realized that we weren’t going to kill each other. Mom’s dream has been to see everyone getting along in the same room for as long as I can remember. Jared and I were always worried that we'd have to call up each relative and go see them on our own. We thought this would never happen. Thankfully, now that it has, it’s going to become a yearly tradition! I love each and every person there, and hopefully I get to meet Parker, the cousin missing from the bunch, next year! I can’t Thank God enough for the many blessings I have – 30something of which consist of the Wilkes family.

- Caitlin

Days 3-6 (Katie)

with the Puffins at the St. Louis Zoo

on top of the Arch

The last day of Branson we shopped for souvenirs and rode roller coasters for the last time. We checked out of our hotel and we were about ready to leave when I got a call from the hotel saying that the maid had found something in our room. Something plaid. Now, I don’t own anything plaid so I already knew it was Brandon’s. We drove all the way back to the hotel and picked up his shorts and then headed to my Grandma’s house. It was a fun 3 hour drive since I had something to make fun of him for. We decided to eat at a Subway so we took out our fantastic GPS and let it take us to the middle of hickville nowhere where it said there was a Subway but instead stood a very old Shell gas station with no Subway. Not only was there no Subway in the Shell gas station, there was no Subway in the entire town. Brandon and I took a deep breath and turned to the fantastic GPS again and let it take us to farmtown USA to find different one. This time, there was one. Did you know that you can get your sandwich on flatbread? It was amazing! We got to my Grandma’s house and after a she cooked us a good meal, I played volleyball with my 2 older sisters and one of my cousins. It was a lot of fun getting back out on a volleyball court to play instead of coach. To celebrate the win, Brandon and I got Fritz frozen custard, which is the best frozen custard in Missouri. Brandon has asked to go back every night since we went. The next day we slept in and chilled out at my Grandma’s house for the day. I learned how to cook fried rice so now I can definitely eat well once Caitlin and I move into our apartment.

Friday, Brandon and I went to the zoo and absolutely loved it. If it hadn’t been so hot we probably would have stayed longer. It was 99 degrees and about 95% humidity. I think the word for that is hell. However, the zoo here is free and we parked on the street so we didn’t have to pay the $11 to park. The only thing we spent money on was a 3D simulator that was really fun. They had a baby camel, which was about the cutest thing I’ve seen. The hippos were very lively and we got to see them swim around and watch fish clean their teeth. The fish were funny because all the little kids swore the hippos were eating them. They had 2 lions and one was in a tree! I think our favorite exhibit was the penguins and puffins. They have an outdoor part and an indoor part. They do a feeding show outdoors where we saw penguins sneaking into the fish bucket behind the zookeeper’s back. Then we went inside where it’s about 35 degrees. It felt awesome after walking around in the Missouri heat. The penguins are so close to you that they swim by the glass and splash you. There is a lot of history in and around the zoo. There is a bird building that was built originally for the World’s Fair. There is also a pavilion outside the zoo not to far away that was also built for the World’s Fair and, oh yeah, my sister got married there! We spent a total of 3 and a half hours at the zoo until we left and went to my sister’s house. Big news by the way…I’m going to be an aunt!

We had a big family game night, stayed up late, and told funny stories. Then Brandon and I woke up the next day and went to the Gateway Arch. It took us a while to even find a parking garage near the Arch because our fantastic GPS wanted us to drive on a road that is now covered in water because the river levels are so high. We finally made it after a very long, repetitive drive around the same 5 blocks. After a very long wait, a picture with Glenn Beck, and a shaky cart ride, we made it to the top. It was a clear day and we could see really far. A couple facts about the Arch I learned: The Arch is the tallest national monument in the US at 630 feet. It took a little over 2 years to build, weighs 17,246 tons, and cost $13 million. The transportation system cost $3.5 million. The maximum sway is 18 inches (9 inches each way) in a 150 mph wind. The usual sway is about ½ an inch. There are 142 sections that make up the Arch and each one is an equilateral triangle.

Our suggestions: For the zoo, get there early (8 am) and park on the street so you don’t have to pay for parking and bring water. Also, check the weather. It’s free so if it looks like the heat might kill you, go another day.

For the Arch, buy tickets ahead of time. There is an Internet fee but it’s worth it. We spent a half our in line to buy tickets and another 2 hours waiting for our tram time. Granted, we got to see Glenn Beck, but I would have much rather not sat around for 2 hours. Also, see if there’s a ball game that day. The Cardinals’ stadium is only a couple blocks away and you can get tickets for a decent price.

We only have Grant’s Farm and Six Flags left but we’re having a blast! We’re excited to get back to mountains and dry air, but we’re having a lot of fun. However, if our GPS screws up another drive we’re going to throw it in the Missouri River.

-Katie and Brandon

Days 1 and 2 (Katie)

AAAAAAAAAND we made it! The drive took us about 13 hours and it felt like 13 hours. It was long but a lot of fun. We got to Branson about 8 p.m. and promptly passed out. This morning we woke up to a terrible ring from my cell phone, stumbled to breakfast and discovered we could have ate better in our car, which only has poptarts. So, the breakfast sucked. However, the room is nice and it’s right next to Silver Dollar City. We rode the free shuttle that the hotel provides and arrived at 10 a.m. were we promptly got cinnamon bread from the bakery (awesome bread). There were barely any people there so we rushed right to the roller coasters. Here are our ratings:

Wild Fire:
Brandon – 7.5 Katie – 7
The Wild Fire is your typical “ready for the next step” roller coaster. If you’ve been stuck riding all the kiddie ones, you’ve experienced speed and a few twists and hills, and now you’re ready for loops…this is the roller coaster for you. We went during a dead day so there weren’t very many people in the park and therefore the lines were short. This immediately put us in a good mood. We got on and got locked in and we took off. First thing we noticed: the speed sucked. Really! It sounds harsh but we’re being honest. It just wasn’t that fast. There were several loops you get thrown through and it’s hard to worry about speed when you’re upside down. On the bright side, when the speed is down you have time to smile and look at the camera. Our pictures were great. For experienced roller coaster lovers, this isn’t going to be your new fav but it’s fun. Our suggestions: Ride in the front and in one of the outside seats.
Powder Keg:
Brandon – 8 Katie – 8.5
All right, if you’re ready for some speed here it is. This roller coaster is FAST. It shoots you off and you never look back. There are some down sides to this ride. First, Brandon’s biggest complaint is the way you’re strapped in. It isn’t the typical over the shoulder ones – it’s lap bars. Second, it’s hard to get a good picture unless you’re good at smiling while being thrown at the speed of light. Finally, there is always a long line for this ride because it’s that good. Our suggestions: Ride in the front and don’t have a cell phone in your pocket because you’ll be fighting to keep it in the whole ride.
Fire in the Hole:
Brandon – 1 Katie – 6
Brandon was disappointed because I called it a roller coaster. Now, it does have a height requirement and a few surprising, squeal inducing drops but overall its sort of a cute, fun ride. He was expecting a typical roller coaster. My mom LOVES this ride. It’s the only roller coaster that she will ride. So the verdict is, it’s fun. It’s not a screamer, but it’s fun.
Silver Dollar City: 8
Overall we gave the park an 8. The food is awesome. There is no food in the entire park that I didn’t want. It is an amusement park so the prices are a little high. There are neat shops everywhere you turn. Our favorite was the glass shop. You can see glass blowing and the shop is filled with really pretty breakable glass things. The people in the park are a little hickish. Overall it’s a really cool place and I love going! Plus, the fact that Brandon is snoring right now says that there was definitely plenty to do!
Hotel: 7
The Deer Run Motel is a nice place. Free Internet is a definite perk but the terrible breakfast is a downer. The beds are comfy, the TV has cable and the room was clean. Brandon says the only problem is the shower head is too short for him. So the shower and the breakfast are our only complaints!
We’ve only eaten at 2 new places so far and here are our ratings:
Steak N Shake:
Brandon – 7 Katie – 7.5
Bandana’s BBQ:
Brandon – 7 Katie – 8

We have one more day here in Branson and then we go on to my Grandma’s house!
-Katie

WBC Strikes Again. Let's Strike Back. (Katie)

Earlier in the year, Caitlin and I made the hour drive to Boulder, CO to counter protest Westboro Baptist Church. If you haven’t heard of these people, time to crawl out of your cave and Google them. They are against everyone but themselves. Brandon is the love of my life – he is also Catholic. Caitlin is one of my closest friends, and by previous blogs you can probably guess she’s a Christian. Both of these people, whom I adore, are targets of this group. I am also a firm believer in the statement “if you don’t want to stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them”. Our military has fought for our freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and other very important rights that maybe we take for granite sometimes. I was reminded during our counter protest that just because we have the freedom of speech, it doesn’t mean that something intelligent or useful always comes out people’s mouths.It was a great feeling to be a part of something that was so important. You might not think that 300 people standing on a sidewalk counter protesting is important, but it is. I think that all of us being there shows that there are a lot of people that support the groups that are often targets of hate. It shows that there are tons people that care. It brought a lot of people together that would have never come together otherwise. For instance, I stood next to many CU students without a word of hate being exchanged between us.
Westboro is coming back to Colorado. Those six words almost make me sick. This time, they are headed to my home away from home, CSU. I never really stayed at a high school long enough to have any deep pride for my high school, but college has been very different. I am very proud to be a Ram. These people, if the term person can be applied to these idiots, are attacking something that I am so proud of. Their website has this to say about the students of CSU:
“WBC to picket Colorado State University where this nation's students of higher learning show how absolutely worthless their parents have made them. They've been raised on a steady diet of lies from birth. Their parents, teachers and preachers taught them God is a liar -- that it's okay to be gay, to fornicate at will, and to murder unborn babies. The only thing they are good for now are the killing fields of Iraq and Afghanistan where Anti-Christ Beast Obama will send them to be slaughtered. Today, you will for the first time in your life hear the truth about God -- He has standards that you are required to abide by; if you don't, you are going to hell forever. It, in fact, is not okay to be gay, fornicate, or murder babies. These words are life and health to any who have ears to hear. The time is short! Listen! Obey!”
That speaks for itself. These people don’t listen to anyone, but I’d have plenty to say if I got to sit down with them. I’m proud to be who I am. I love my friends the way they are no matter if they are gay, Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Democrat, Republican, pro-choice, pro-life, or military. I fully support our troops and to see Westboro Baptist Church hold up a sign that says “Thank God For IED’s” makes me furious. I won’t even go into how angry it makes me to hear them protesting at a soldier’s funeral. I’m going to be on my road trip when they come into town or I’d be there. If you can, it’s important to show them that Colorado is a state that doesn’t allow hate. Make your signs, go out, and show them we’re a state that cares.
-Katie

Things I Wish I Knew on the Second Day (Caitlin)

Okay, so I’m blogging my way through this leadership training thing I’m doing at my church. I’m going with my mom. We were expecting there to be just a few other people, but there were over 100. It was pretty exciting. I was also worried that it might be a little dry and boring, but it was incredibly inspiring. I am so happy we’re going. It’s every Wed. night at Pathways church in Denver. I know how fruity this whole things sounds, but it is certainly a different experience being in the room, than it is to read a person’s notes. Bear with me, part of the reason I’m going to this thing is to learn how to effectively communicate my spiritual experiences and thoughts. Anyway, here goes. These are just my general notes from the night. They might seem incomplete and short, but I’ll try to fill in the blanks.

A disciple is:

1) An unrelenting follower
2) Selflessly obedient
3) A passionate learner
4) Missionally minded
5) Loves graciously
6) Radically abiding

The walk with God is painted oddly. There are many misconceptions about being a Christ follower. First off, it’s HARD. Here are some things I wish I knew on the second day of finding Jesus (the first day should be left to excitement and joy, but everyone needs to know what they’re in for).

Don’t forget about the Israelites. Everything that happened to them is an example for us. As they escaped Egypt and walked the deserts, we must navigate life’s desert experiences. This is the cycle – the experience of following Christ.

1) Abundance – God parts the red sea. Prayers are answered, you are giddy and amazed.
2) Expectation – You expect more abundance. “If God is doing this now, then surely he can only be more amazing.” You expect your life to become easier, and things to become lighter.
3) Disappointment – God parts the red sea, and then sends the Israelites into the desert without water. You begin to think, “My life without Jesus was better than with him…”
4) Complaint – You can’t contain yourself with how much it sucks. The Israelites finally came to the waters of Marah, but the water was bitter (my pastor called this the “WTF waterfall” stage in life. The people didn’t know what to do, saying “NOW what will we drink?!”
5) Grace – God always shows up with SOMETHING to give relief, usually when you’re at the end of your rope. God finally sent Moses a hunk of wood to throw into the water that made it good to drink. He will wait until you surrender. Stop fighting and accept that he will provide. And this links up to the abundance - this is the cycle.

WHY??

To prove your character, to make sure you’re truly following him, to give you humility, to make sure you trust him, to “grow” you. A person does not grow if everything is always great. It takes hard times to mature a person. God knows better than you. You’ve got to trust the process. If you don’t trust him, you might end up wondering, “Why is he doing this to me?” and being bitter and angry.

HOW to navigate the cycle:

1) Don’t romanticize the past – the Israelites began to complain, saying that Egypt was better than the desert. At least there was food and water there. But it wasn’t better, it was slave labor, a concentration camp. Do not look to past relationships and jobs and begin to glorify them. It will do you no good.
2) REALIZE it when you’re in the desert – be aware. Know that in the end, grace and abundance will come. Trust God. Hard times are easier to survive when you know that they are just a phase of the cycle.
3) Find God in it – the desert is hard, but God never leaves. Search for him.
4) Stay tender – the desert can harden the heart. Remember that God knows better than you do, and that he hasn’t forgotten you. Love the people around you, do not let hard times change you.
5) When in the desert, shift your appetite from earthly to heavenly things. When health and finances are deserting you, crave God and community. It is easier to go without things when your priorities do not rest in them.

That's all for now, I'll have a new one next week!

- Caitlin

50 Easy Ways to Burn a Few Calories (Caitlin)

I was sitting at work thinking about the fact that I most definitely gained the freshman fifteen (lbs) over the course of the last year. All of the sudden, out of the depths of an Allure magazine, sprung the answer to my problems! Now, I’m a busy girl, especially as of late. I don’t have time to eat like a health nut and work out every day, so the following advice, courtesy of Brooke Le Poer Trench of Allure magazine, provided me with some hope that I might stop gaining weight, and maybe even loose a little if I can find the time to REALLY take care of myself. It’s working so far, thought I’d spread the word!

1. Take vitamin D
Women who were deficient in it lost weight more slowly in a study in the British Journal of Nutrition. Stephen Gullo, a weight-loss expert in New York City and author of "The Thin Commandments" (Rodale), recommends 2,000 milligrams daily.
2. Drink coffee
Studies have found that caffeine increases the rate at which you burn calories, according to Susan B. Roberts, author of "The 'I' Diet" (Workman) and a professor of nutrition and psychiatry at Tufts University in Boston.
3. Sleep more
Getting fewer than four hours of sleep over an extended period of time slows the metabolism. Experts recommend aiming for between seven and nine.
4. Do things by hand
Wash your dishes, vacuum, or cook dinner. "We consider it a luxury to have tasks done for us, but doing some of these for yourself takes considerable energy," says Slayton.
5. Wear a basic pedometer
"Every week, aim to take a few more steps than you did the last week," says Wheelock.
6. Eat lightly and often
"For most people, the body uses up more energy digesting smaller meals every few hours than by eating the same number of calories in two or three sittings," says Chrissy Wellington, a nutritionist at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts.
7. Move briskly
"Walk like you're late for a meeting," says Gunnar Peterson, who trains Jennifer Lopez in Los Angeles.
8. Laugh
"It burns up to 50 calories if you laugh for 10 to 15 minutes per day," says Adelino Da Costa, owner of Punch Fitness Center in New York City.
9. Eat breakfast
"You send your body a signal that you're not starving, so it starts burning fat — even when you're just doing normal activities," says Peterson. He suggests eating scrambled egg whites or oatmeal with fruit.
10. Time yourself
Spend the last five minutes of each hour (set your computer timer) up and moving around, says Kristin McGee, a New York City yoga and Pilates instructor.
11. Fill up on fiber
Low-carb, high-fiber foods take more time to digest than other foods, leaving you feeling fuller longer and less likely to snack, says Gullo. He suggests spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and cauliflower.
12. Go out of your way
At work, take the long way to the restroom — or even go up one flight of stairs.
13. Fidget
You can burn up to 350 more calories a day than someone who remains stationary, according to a study at the Mayo Clinic. The impulse to fidget may be hardwired, but nonfidgeters can imitate it: Tap your feet, pace, or move restlessly in your seat.
14. Stash flats in your bag
"My clients aren't going to slip on sneakers to go home, but there is a happy medium," says Slayton. "You might not run a marathon in ballet slippers, but at least you can move quickly."
15. Don't eat late at night
It can interrupt sleep, according to Wellington, and may induce you to skip breakfast — bad for your metabolism.
16. Straighten up
"Good posture not only makes you look taller and leaner, but it strengthens your abdominal muscles," says Brooklyn Decker, the model on the cover of this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
17. Drink more
Dehydrated people experience a drop in their metabolic rate. Drinking water throughout the day caused metabolic rates to increase by about 30 percent in a German study. The goal: eight cups a day.
18. Beware of sugar
It triggers the body to release insulin, which then either transplants sugar to the cells to be used as energy — or stored as fat, according to Jorge Cruise, author of "The Belly Fat Cure" (Hay House).
19. Squat
When you pick up something from the floor, keep your back straight and bend at the knees, not the waist. "This protects your back and tones your legs," says Peterson.
20. Chew gum
It burns a few calories — and it keeps you from mindlessly grazing, especially when you're cooking, says McGee.
21. Sleep better
A poor night's sleep causes people to chose less-nutritious foods, according to a study at the University of Pennsylvania. Another study showed that sleep-deprived people simply move less.
22. Walk and talk
Don't sit still when you take a phone call. At work, wear a headset.
23. Switch sides
Whether you're carrying a heavy bag on your shoulder or a child on your hip, "swapping sides every five minutes works more muscles," says Peterson.
24. Pick up the pace
Listen to fast songs, such as "Closer" by Ne-Yo, says Ruth Zukerman, co-owner of Flywheel Sports, a cycling studio in New York City. "The beat forces you to keep a calorie-burning pace, especially when walking or taking stairs."
25. Cook your own food
"It's often healthier, and by the time you've made a meal and cleaned up, you've been on your feet a half-hour more than you would have waiting for takeout," says Slayton.
26. Go on a date.
Women tend to order foods with fewer calories when dining with a man (who's not a long-term significant other), compared with when they eat with other women, according to a study conducted at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.
27. Avoid eating lunch at your desk
If you must, have a quick bite, then go for a short walk.
28. Always carry a snack
Try nuts, low-calorie bars, or a piece of fruit. Eating frequently keeps your metabolism up (and reduces the odds that you'll wind up a victim of the vending machine).
29. Wear stilettos
"Every few days, I'll wear the highest heels I own," says Decker. "It helps tone my legs, because they work different muscles in my calves and thighs."
30. Relax
Stress causes the body to release cortisol, which causes more calories to be stored as fat, especially in your abdomen.
31. Watch less television
Adults who halved their television viewing time (by using an electronic lock-out system) not only burned an extra 119 calories per day, but did so without altering what they ate.
32. Lift up
Rise up on the balls of your feet and then lower yourself down again. "I do this little Pilates move everywhere," says McGee.
33. Build up your abs
Do intense bursts of engaging your abs tightly. If you think you can only do 30 seconds, push for 40, says Da Costa.
34. Drink a few cups of strong green tea every day
In addition to caffeine, green tea contains catechin polyphenols, plant chemicals that may also boost metabolism, according to a study from the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
35. Heat things up
"Some studies show that spicy food can temporarily increase metabolism," says Slayton. Try red pepper flakes on salad.
36. Work your legs a bit
"If I'm stuck in a seat, I do small knee lifts, almost like I'm marching in place," says McGee.
37. Eat salmon
Salmon eaters lost significantly more weight than beef eaters in a study, even though the calories consumed were equal.
38. Pop a pill
People taking supplements with glutamine after meals burned an average of 20 more calories than those taking a placebo in a study at Iowa State University in Ames.
39. Keep your blow-dryer at the health club
"I have a client who swears that this motivates her to work out," says Slayton.
40. Eat the peel
"It takes the body more energy to break down fiber-rich foods, like the skins of fruits and vegetables," says Wellington.
41. Get busy
Most couples burn an average of 300 calories an hour while they're having sex.
42. Go coconuts
People who replace oils and fats like animal fats and sunflower oil with those containing medium-chain fatty acids, such as coconut oil, lose more body fat.
43. Drink oolong tea
Gullo suggests this to his clients because some studies have shown it can increase metabolic activity by as much as 10 percent.
44. Don't snack in the car
Experts say it's a hotbed of mindless eating and excess calorie consumption.
45. Swing your arms
"The more parts of your body that you use simultaneously, the more you burn," says Zukerman.
46. Snack when you drink
Alcohol paves the way for overeating. Snack before you go out for drinks, says Slayton — or at least eat a few olives when you're at the bar.
47. Clean up
When you're wiping down the counter or washing the car, really stretch out, says Peterson. "Use both hands and make large circular motions, like you're the Karate Kid."
48. Buy some crackers
"High-fiber, low-starch foods, such as GG Crispbreads, create a film on the intestinal lining that blocks the absorption of other calories," says Gullo.
49. Sit up
When watching TV, "get in the habit of holding your body straight," says Slayton.
50. Don't forget dairy
Wellington says, "Researchers believe that low-fat dairy inhibits fats from being stored."

This is the link to the whole article. Hope it helps!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37378884/ns/health-womens_health/page/2/

- Caitlin