Stand Up!

I recently received a simple weight loss (and health) tip: Stand up as much as you can during your waking hours. Some information has come out stating you burn up to 50 more calories per hour if you are standing vs. sitting. This can add up to a 20 pound weight loss in a year's time if this is the only thing you change about your routine. Considering that as we age we tend to gain 1 to 2 pounds per year, losing weight just by standing more is a great option. 


How can you incorporate more standing into your daily routine? Try a few of these methods:

• Stand up and maybe even pace while you are on a business or personal phone call.
• Stand next to a table or counter when folding laundry.
• Have your child do his/her homework in the kitchen so that you can be there to help while you are also standing and doing the dishes or cooking dinner.
• Set an alert on your computer for every 30 minutes to remind you to stand or pace or take a standing break for about 5 minutes.
• Do any task that you usually do while sitting down but could easily do while standing up. 

Check out the links below for more information about the health benefits of standing:
Stand Up While You Read This
Calories Burned Standing

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter

This is a Cooking Light recipe that is so good! It is one of our family favorites and I've passed it along to many friends. Enjoy!

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter

Finish the asparagus just before serving dinner. Cooking the butter until it browns slightly gives the dish a nutty flavor; watch carefully, though, since it can burn easily.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 5 spears)

Ingredients

• 40 asparagus spears, trimmed (about 2 pounds)
• Cooking spray
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

Arrange asparagus in a single layer on baking sheet; coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until tender.

Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat; cook for 3 minutes or until lightly browned, shaking pan occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in soy sauce and vinegar. Drizzle over the asparagus, tossing well to coat. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

45 (60% from fat)

Fat:

3g (sat 1.8g,mono 0.9g,poly 0.2g)

Protein:

1.9g

Carbohydrate:

3.9g

Fiber:

1.7g

Cholesterol:

8mg

Iron:

0.7mg

Sodium:

134mg

Calcium:

18mg

David Bonom, Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2001