If you watched the Super Bowl - or even if you didn’t - you have probably heard that tomorrow is the free Denny’s Grand Slam breakfast offer for all Americans. Between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow, February 3rd, show up to a Denny’s near you and gorge yourself on 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, and 2 sausage links and 2 slices of bacon…..all for free! 

Awwww…..that’s so nice of them. Especially in this economy, huh? So let’s look at what you’re getting:

has 795 calories, 50 grams of fat (14 of that sat fat), 65 grams carbs and 34 grams protein. If you add coffee and add cream, that’s an extra 115 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. 

Holy crap! What motive would Denny’s have to kill all Americans off all at one time? It would cut down the customer base quite a lot, wouldn’t it?

Okay, I’m not trying to be a party-pooper, (one could argue I’m still cranky over my team’s loss on Sunday), and I’m not even saying don’t partake in the freebie fun….. I just want you to know what you’re getting in exchange for saving a little money. If you decide to go for it, might I suggest compensating by going light with the rest of your day’s calories?

Or, substitute egg beaters for the two eggs, eat just one of the pancakes, and don’t eat the sausage. Or better yet, bring a *f.a.t. sister friend with you, who is willing to forgo her free meal, and split one meal between the two of you.

Or better even still - crack yourself two organic, cage free, eggs at home, (better Omega 3 vs. 6 ratios than typical eggs), make yourself some  sides of blueberries, strawberries and smoked salmon, sprinkle some sugar on the kitchen table and some crumbs on your chair, look at something yellow, and just pretend you’re at Denny’s!

Just an idea.

Now that we’re one month into the new year, I thought it would be a great idea for everyone to take inventory of their progress toward their health and fitness New Year’s Resolutions. Some of you may feel like your motivation is waning, and your enthusiasm is wearing off.

So, over the next couple of weeks, I am going to be sharing a few book recommendations with you, that may help get you back on track toward your goals to achieve a new you, or just keep you informed on how best to achieve a healthy lifestyle. 

With Valentine’s Day approaching, let’s think books over chocolate when thinking of what to get your mom, sister, best friend, or even yourself! Okay, maybe a small box of chocolates, because we are women, and I certainly can’t preach what I am not willing to practice! A girl needs some chocolate now and then! (Especially after her team loses the Super Bowl, but I’ll save “Chocolate As An Antidepressant” for another article.)

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You may not have the time to dance three and a half hours per day, as professional cheerleaders do, but you can do some of the other fitness training that they do to increase stamina, endurance, and strength.

Here are some exercises taken from the boot camp fitness regimen that the Cowboys Cheerleaders do. These can be done at home. Each should be done for one minute without stopping. Do the circuit twice. Use 5-to-10-pound weight.

• Ab twists with weights


Sit on the floor with with knees bent. Slowly lean body back into a 45-degree angle and use abdominal muscles to bring feet off the ground. Hold a dumbbell with both hands in front of your chest.

Twist at the waist, bringing dumbbell to the left of bent knees. Smoothly twist back to the left, hands rotating weight to the opposite side.

Keep legs up off the ground throughout the exercise.

• 7-ups


Lie on back, cross hands behind head, extend right leg long and cross left foot over right knee.

Simultaneously bring right knee (with left foot still crossed over knee) toward chest and raise head and shoulders up and forward to meet bent knee. Contract abdominal muscles. Next, simultaneously lower the leg (left one is still crossed), and lower head and shoulders, keeping them an inch off ground. Repeat without resting, alternating sides.

More ab exercises

• Sky crunches with dumbbell


Lie on back, extend arms above head, holding a dumbbell with both hands. Place legs up in the air.

Reach arms straight up, while lifting shoulder and head approximately 3 inches off the ground, exhale as you contract abdominal muscles. Relax shoulders down, keep arms with weight still reaching upward. Head is still off the ground with abdominal muscles engaged. Repeat without resting.

• Butterfly crunches


Lie on back with hands behind the head. Bend knees and cross ankles keeping knees out wide, engaging abdominal muscles, chin to chest.

Crunch forward, bringing elbows to knees. Slowly, lower head and legs to starting position but don’t let either knees or head touch the ground.

• “Rocky” sit-ups


Lie on back with knees bent. Hands are in fist position, resting on your chest.

Raise your upper body forward to a vertical position. Punch arms across body in a one-two combination from right to left before lowering body back down to the ground.

• Scissor crunches


Lie on back with arms extended behind head and hands touching, forming a point. Lift straight legs two inches off the ground.

Kick right leg straight up toward the ceiling while bringing both hands together to touch your foot. (Legs are in a scissors position — hence the name.)

Slowly lower your right leg back down two inches from the ground and lower arms behind head. Repeat on other side.