Every four years we get to experience a leap year - meaning this year we will have an extra day in February. This extra day can be used as a special day to focus on your health. Here is what I have planned.

1. Rise and shine with a brisk walk. I might even add a couple leaps into my walk for extra exercise during this day.

2. Come home and prep the kids for school. I'm going to have a Razzmatazz RightSize smoothie for breakfast - a healthy treat to start my day out right.

3. I head to work and the kids head to school. I am packing healthy brown-bag lunches for us all.

4. After work and school, it's time for some fun with the kids. I think we'll play for a while in the family room before we make dinner together. Maybe we'll play leap frog since it's Leap Day.

5. After dinner, the kids will finish homework and then we plan to have a family movie night.

If you want to make the smoothie I mentioned, the recipe is easy, nutritious and delicious:

Razzmatazz Smoothie
1 scoop of SkinniVanilli 92 kcal
6 oz. skim milk 60 kcal
1/2 cup raspberry sorbet 120 kcal
6 ice cubes
TOTAL: 272 kcal

Happy Leap Day everyone!

Do you like adventure? Intrigue? Do you delight in surveys and shaping the destinies of others?

Okay - well maybe that's a bit lofty. But just a bit.

What we ARE proposing is helping us with some product testing!!  If you would like to be a part of this effort, here is what I need you to do TODAY! Seriously, I need this today, first come first served.  Space is limited, so please follow carefully to be considered for participation. (I have to be clear - if you don't get a call, it is nothing personal, and we hope that you will stay tuned for future opportunities to participate)

1. Send me an email at jgoodner@rsize.com
2. Include Product Testing in the subject line
3. In the body of the email please include all of the following information: name, address, phone number, and the best email address to contact you
4. You must be willing to sign and fax or email back a consent form.
5. You will need to have the ability to respond to survey questions via Survey Monkey

Are you in??

I'm sure you've heard that getting sleep is important for a healthy lifestyle, and for those who want to lose weight, it carries extra significance. But how so?

Think about it for a minute - I know when I don't get a lot of sleep I eat unhealthy foods, mostly because I'm too tired to cook smarter options. I'll visit the vending machine for a snack or grab some fast food for dinner. I also have a tendency to drink more calories because I'm tempted by caffeine-filled drinks like soda and coffee. All of a sudden my diet is destroyed for the day, and I still feel tired and lethargic. 

If I'm tired and need a quick meal that is still a healthier option, I go for a meal replacement drink - it gives me the nutrients I need to stay healthy and is easy enough to make on even my most tired days. Then I try to get a better night's sleep so I feel better tomorrow.

A good night's sleep can help your metabolism work well. Adequate sleep helps your body run efficiently, and part of that means burning calories more efficiently.

The amount of sleep each person needs varies, but according to the National Sleep Foundation, healthy adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep. I personally try to get eight hours every night and I have found that having a regular routine is the best way for me to achieve that goal. Here is what I try to do:

1. I go to bed within the same one-hour period every night. This is between 10 and 11 p.m.

2. I turn off all digital devices at least a half hour before bed. No TV, cell phone or computer.

3. I avoid eating large snacks or caffeine later at night. I try to drink only water after dinner time.

4. I try to keep my bedroom quiet, cool and dark.

It's important to find a routine and strategies that work best for you. What do you guys do to help get a good night's rest? Any other ideas for helping catch those important Zzzzs?

Valentine's Day brings with it indulgent candy, savory meals and rich desserts. Apparently, if you're lucky enough to be in love and celebrating Saint Valentine you are going to be eating some tasty treats. For the diet-conscious person, the challenge of Valentine's Day is enjoying these foods but not overeating.

My plan for V-Day is to spend some time with my family. They are the ones who give me the best gift in life: love. We plan to go out to eat at a local restaurant here in town and enjoy some fine food and time together.

If you're heading out to eat for Valentine's Day, stick to your diet plans by indulging in moderation only. If you're having a rich main dish, keep it light for dessert and perhaps order some fresh fruit. If you want a decadent dessert to share with your honey, go light on the meal and opt for water to drink.

Have dinner and movie plans? Eat dinner first so you're not hungry once you hit the theater. That way you can avoid the heavily buttered popcorn and calorie-laden candies. If eating is not in the plan and you just want to see a movie, simply choose one treat and share. Sharing is in the spirit of love after all!

If you exchange gifts this year for Valentine's Day, it might be wise to subtly hint to your significant other that the heart-shaped box of chocolates might be better left on the shelf and instead replaced with a nice bouquet of flowers or simply a card.

End your day with a romantic walk holding hands and reminiscing - no matter what your age, it's an enjoyable activity that will remind you why you love each other so much.

Now, if I can only survive my daughter's Valentine's Day Party! With the right plan, I think I can get through anything, even a cupcake-filled day with second graders!

Does the nutrition label seem like a confusing chart filled with a foreign language to you? I recently decided to learn more about how to read the nutrition label and discovered it's not as hard as it may seem.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires a boxed nutrition label on almost all packaged food and beverage items. I wanted to learn more about nutrition labels so I could eat healthier and understand what I was putting into my body. 

I have found the more I read food labels, the better I am at quickly comparing options and making healthy choices. Here are the main things I look for when shopping:

1. Serving size.
The first part of the nutrition label states the serving size. This is so important to know. The item might appear healthy, but if you're eating the whole box and that equates to multiple servings, your diet can take an unhealthy nosedive. For example, if I'm buying crackers and the serving size is 15, that probably seems about right for what I would eat for a snack.

2. Calories.
The next part helps me keep my calorie count on track. The nutrition label states calories per serving size and how many of those calories come from fat content. Remember, if you think you'll eat two servings rather than one, double this amount when planning your daily diet.

3. Nutrients.
Next is the list of nutrients in the product. This includes things like fat, sodium, fiber, sugar, protein and various vitamins. This is the bulk of the nutrition label. When picking out products, I typically try to limit options with high levels of saturated or trans fat, salt and cholesterol. I have a sweet tooth so I like sugar, but try to enjoy it in moderation. I love when items have high levels of protein because they keep me satisfied. Take a look at the label on RightSize Smoothies and see how packed it is with nutrients.

4. Daily values.
The last part of the label I use infrequently, but it is still valuable to reference if needed. This is a reminder that the label is based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet and offers some information about your daily calorie needs based on that amount. If you're a man, you might be eating more than 2,000 calories a day. If you're dieting, you might be eating less, so this is a general reference point.

Three fast and easy strategies that work

Does it sometimes feel like you're too busy to dedicate yourself to losing weight? I know how that can be. Between work, school, kids' activities, cooking and cleaning, I barely have a moment to myself before it's time to go to bed.

I've found that small steps every day really add up. Try these three strategies and see how great you look and feel - they don't take much time or effort, and the results may be surprising.

1. Errands + exercise = success
Forget the gym - I like to add some physical activity to the errands I run. For example, I always park at the back of the parking lot and walk. I choose to take the stairs. I use a basket at the grocery store instead of a cart when I don't need a lot of food. I take a walk around the office when I need to talk to a coworker, rather than use the phone.

2. Mmmm: shake it up
RightSize Smoothies are great for meal replacement and really help me cut calories fast. I simply replace one or two meals a day with a smoothie. They are quick to make, come in many tasty varieties, and provide me with the nutrients I need while cutting the calories.

3. Feel the hydration sensation
Staying hydrated throughout the day helps my body look and feel great. I always have a bottle of water close by because it's the perfect zero-cal beverage! Plus, drink a glass before a meal to feel fuller - by doing this I eat fewer calories and feel more satisfied.