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Giving birth to a new human life is one of life’s most
precious miracles. But inevitably, while women gain a wonderful addition to
their lives they gain something else; baby weight. No matter how careful women
are during their pregnancies, eating healthy and exercising regularly, they are
bound to pack on a few extra pounds. It’s a normal part of pregnancy.
Unfortunately, losing those pounds after giving birth is the biggest weight
loss challenge of most women’s lives. Celebrities are not immune to gaining
baby weight but somehow they almost always manage to lose it, usually with the
help of a personal trainer and strict diet. Here are a few of the celebrity
moms we admire for looking fantastic post-pregnancy.
Denise Richards:
This 34-year-old actress is the mother of two daughters; Sam, who was born in
March 2004 and Lola Rose, who was born in July 2005. This gorgeous mom started
exercising soon after giving birth to her first daughter and lost more than 20
pounds in just three weeks! Later the same year she proved she still had a hot
bod by posing for Playboy. Be advised, just because Denise lost a lot of weight
extremely quickly it is not considered safe for the average woman to lose that
much weight that quickly.
Brooke Shields:
This 40-year-old super model and actress is also the mother of two little
girls. Brooke welcomed a baby girl in May 2006, two years after giving birth to
first daughter Rowan. Even as she battled post-partum depression and faced off
against Tom Cruise who criticized her use of anti-depressants, Brooke managed
to be a great mother and regain her stellar figure.
Brooke Burke:
This super sexy 35-year-old television host proves that it is possible to be a
sex symbol and a mommy. Brooke rose to fame as the host of E!’s Wild On and has
most recently become noticeable for co-hosting Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star:
Supernova with pal Dave Navarro. She has graced the cover of numerous men’s
magazines. She gave birth to Neriah in 2000 and Sierra Sky in 2002 and still
managed to pose for Playboy in 2001. Since then she has designed and modeled
her own bikini line. However, Brooke’s ex-husband is a top plastic surgeon, so
who knows how she really stays this svelte.
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People are confused about what to eat
and how much. The government releases documents that are supposed to promote
healthy eating habits but why is America still fat?
In Canada a revised Food Guide is set
to be released in 2007 but critics are already scrutinizing the document saying
it doesn’t reflect the lifestyle changes and the way people really do eat. According to the Digital Journal, Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, a medical director
said: "Eating according to the food guide would provide far more calories
than the average Canadian would need, and as a consequence, anybody following
the food guide almost certainly will likely gain weight.”
The American
Food Pyramid really isn’t any better. For one thing, it’s evident that a
lot of the recommendations weigh heavily on the marketing of certain food
groups and there is definitely a hidden agenda that goes beyond simply helping to
improve the dietary habits of the American population.
For starters, it recommends 3 cups of
milk and milk products. For many individuals who suffer from lactose
intolerance this is simply unrealistic. It also doesn’t state that the milk
should be low-fat or light which is essential for those trying to watch their weight
as milk products can be fattening.
Carbohydrates are also lumped as one
big category. There is no classification between complex and simple carbs nor
do they suggest substituting whole grains for white flour or brown rice for
white.
The guide barely even mentions the
need to watch your portion sizes or that different people need varying portion
sizes. I do appreciate the fact that they pyramid now allows you to input your
age, gender and activity level to create a more personalized food plan but I feel
the numbers are still incredibly generalized and doesn’t really take into account
the cultural differences and dietary restrictions that many Americans have.
If you’re kind of lost when it comes
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Yesterday I discussed the absolutely repulsive deep fried Mars bar which has become very
popular in Scotland.
I was completely nauseated when I came across the “Quadruple Bypass Burger” as
a news story under the health section of Yahoo. This burger can actually
be found at a restaurant in Arizona
called the "Heart Attack Grill". According to
Yahoo, the burger consists of four beef patties, cheese, onions, tomatoes, and fried
bacon which will set you back an astounding 8,000 calories! For all of you looking for a lighter
fare there’s always the ‘triple or double bypass burger,’ which are equally appalling.
Besides the disgusting burgers the restaurant
also serves French Fries which are prepared in pure lard.
Personally, I am absolutely disgusted
by this. In a country where over 27% of all Americans are considered obese and 910,000
Americans die of heart disease annually (according to the American Heart
Association) it is completely irresponsible to create a menu that makes fun
of the number one killer of Americans. This restaurant may be trying to make
light of a serious topic, but people are
dying from unhealthy habits and it really isn’t a laughing matter.
The Heart
Attack Grill’s website is inexcusable. They really should be ashamed of themselves. They pride
themselves on the slogan for the restaurant which is a “Taste Worth Dying For’. They state life is short and you should eat
drink and be merry. Life may be short but if you eat at the “Heart Attack Grill”
it’s guaranteed you will shorten your life expectancy drastically. It’s one
thing to enjoy your food but it’s another to eat a meal which is damaging to
your health. The restaurant takes their antics even further by having their
female employees dress up as sexy nurses to serve the meals. What a horrible
idea for a restaurant. And I’m sure the restaurant is successful with its male
patrons; you can’t go wrong by endorsing huge quantities of meat served by
pretty girls who look like hookers.
This restaurant should be shut down
and banned. It’s interesting that one city is considering banning all trans fats in cooking while another outwardly
promotes such atrocious eating habits. We’re currently experiencing an obesity epidemic
and restaurants like this do not promote a healthy lifestyle. Yes, people are
free to make their own choices. But a restaurant that outwardly flaunts
unhealthy to point of danger eating habits is just wrong.
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I was
recently reading an article on AskMen’s
website about some of the most fattening snacks on the market, and was shocked
to come across a deep-fried Mars bar that contains a whopping 688 calories and
13 grams of fat! I decided to investigate this mysterious dessert further, and
was even more alarmed to realize there were a ton of recipes for this
artery-clogging treat available. Some folks actually wanted to make this one at
home!
This over-the-top spin on the chocolate bar is popular in Europe and is literally created by dipping a Mars bar in
batter. Come on people! Aren’t Mars bars delicious enough already without the
extra obesity add-on? I’m not promoting that you mow down on Mars bars, but if
you decide to have one, there is no reason it needs to be dipped in batter. The
batter these deep-fried chocolate bars are dipped in is the same batter that we
commonly use to dip chicken or fish. How can that possibly taste good on a
chocolate bar? I was equally appalled to find that deep-fried Twinkies are also
sold and enjoyed worldwide.
According to a report conducted by National Geographic,
these deep-fried chocolate bars are one of Scotland’s most popular dishes. They
can be found in a number of restaurants over there. A recent study conducted on
these naughty treats, found one in four Scots had actually tried a fried Mars
bar! And now this savory treat is slowly making its way to North
America, where we add insult to injury (and half the daily
recommended fat) by enjoying this treat with a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream.
This, my friends, is a dieter’s worst nightmare.
If you come across this god-awful treat, please stop, drop
and run! Don’t think that under any circumstances this should be part of
anyone’s meal.
Stay tuned for for Part II of the most fattening foods on the market. Tomorrow I'll shed some light on the appetizing "Quadruple bypass
burger".
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We’re all busy and unfortunately most of us usually inhale
our meals rather than sit down and properly chew our food. I know I don’t always make the time I should to sit my
butt down and thoroughly chew my food. A lot of my meals are consumed on the
run, at my desk, or (yikes) in my car! A recent study has proven that eating
too quickly can actually lead to weight gain.
A study
conducted by the University
of Rhode Island
examined the eating habits of 30 average-weight women during lunchtime. The participants
were studied during two different lunch-time meals. Each meal consisted of a
large plate of pasta with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. At the first meal
the women were told to eat as quickly as they could and at the second meal they
were instructed to consume their meal slowly. At the completion of the study it
was found the women consumed 67 more calories at the meal they were instructed
to eat quicker than the slower meal.
This shows that slowing down not only
makes eating a more enjoyable experience but it can also help you watch your
portion sizes. To accomplish this, try to put your spoon or fork down between
each bite and thoroughly chew your food before shoving more food into your
mouth.
When you’re eating out at a restaurant
or enjoying a meal with others don’t try to keep up to their eating speed.
Eating is not a race, but if it were those who were slow and steady would win.
If you’re eating by yourself it’s
important to actually sit down at the table and enjoy your meal. There are so
many nights that I’ll quickly shovel down my food or mindlessly eat in front of
the television. Turn off the TV and focus on enjoying your food to satisfy your
hunger. It takes your brain about 15-20 to register that it’s full, so give
your stomach time to talk to your brain before getting up for a second serving.
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This week’s installment of DietNation's best celebrity bodies is for the
ladies. After some careful consideration and some outside input I’ve come up
with a list of the Hollywood men I believe
have the steamiest bodies.
Matthew McConaughey
– this Southern leading man always looks good when he takes off his shirt
onscreen. And let’s not forget those dimples! If he’s good enough for Penelope
Cruz he’s good enough for us!
Brad Pitt – they
say some things get better with age and Brad is definitely one of them! We fell
in love with those abs in Thelma And Louise  and
20 years later this Hollywood hunk is as
chiseled as ever.
Colin Farrell – there’s
nothing sexier than a rough and tough bad boy and Colin Farrell definitely fits
that bill. With an Irish accent, tattoos and bulging biceps, we can even
forgive the chain smoking. Watch for Colin in Pride and Glory, to be released
in 2007.
Mark Wahlberg – this former rap artist may not be modeling Calvin Klein underwear anymore but we still like to see
him in his skivvies. He’s now a serious Hollywood
producer but there is a rock hard body under those suits. With any luck he will
show it off in The Brazillian Job, slated for release in 2008.
David Beckham – soccer
is a sport filled with good looking men, but few of them as gorgeous as David
Beckham. When this English hottie charges down the field women around the world
become instant soccer fans.
Justin Timberlake
– who knew when this scrawny young teenager belted out pop ballads as a member
of N'Sync he would grow up to become a buffed
up superstar and date Cameron Diaz? We could watch his sexy back grind away on
the dance floor all day long!
Jamie Foxx – this
In Living Color star sprang to fame when he portrayed Ray Charles
in the Academy Award-winning film Ray in 2004. We discovered this
A-list celeb has a stellar body to go with his incredible talent when he
stripped down for his role in Jarhead in 2005.
Taye Diggs – I’ve watched How Stella Got Her Groove Back more times than I can recount and it’s not because the acting was good. Taye was sizzling back then and ten years later this charmer
still makes us catch our breath. Watch for Taye in Slow Burn, scheduled for
release in 2007.
Jesse Metcalfe –
the truth is we’ve hardly ever seen this hot new star with his clothes on, but
I doubt many women are complaining! This young hottie rose to fame when he
began appearing regularly as Eva Longoria’s gardener turned lover on Desperate Housewives. He made us all want to move to Wisteria Lane. Before
that he was a regular cast member of the NBC soap opera Passions. Jesse stars
in John Tucker Must Die released summer 2006.
Mekhi Phifer – this
ER star makes scrubs look sexy. Mekhi
Phifer first came on the scene in 1995 when he was cast in the lead role of Spike
Lee’s Clockers after he walked into an open casting session. We got to see just
how hot he really is when he stripped down to a tight muscle shirt and danced
with Jessica Alba in the film Honey in 2003. Watch for Mekhi in the upcoming
thriller Head Games.
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I’m not a big fan of reality shows,
but I have to admit I’m addicted to America’s Next Top Model. It’s the one show that I never miss. I’m
even subscribed to the newsletter to make sure I stay current with my ANTM news.
The current season, which is in its
seventh cycle showcases some extremely thin girls which is typical of a
majority of the girls on the show. However, there was one contestant named Anchal
who was significantly larger than the bone racks on the show. She was
constantly scrutinized for her larger body frame. Although she was absolutely stunning
and had such a unique look she wasn’t confident in her body type and constantly
compared herself to the tinier girls on the show. Anchal was voted off last
week due to her insecurities.
Casting has begun for the eighth
season of ANTM and it has been reported that the girls are a bit bigger than
previous seasons. This will be a relief from some of the other seasons as we’ve witnessed girls
that are much too thin and definitely not appropriate role models for young impressionable
minds.
I’ve always felt that Tyra Banks is a
positive role model to these girls. She has made it big as a Victoria’s Secret Model and according to
Forbes.com Tyra has been named one of the highest paid super models. Tyra’s body shape can be described as curvy and voluptuous. According to some
accounts she wears an American size 6 which is considered a normal size for
women.
A lot of people can’t stand Tyra and
find her extremely arrogant. I agree that she is a bit conceited, but I
actually really enjoy her. Tyra shows that the only way you’re going to make it
is to believe in yourself and to market yourself. If you don’t believe in
yourself how can you expect anyone else to believe in you? And Tyra has
certainly shown that you can become successful by being confident.
Intentional or not I applaud Tyra at
attempting to broaden the horizons on America’s Next Top Model for season
8 and to introduce contestants at a size that isn’t typically seen on ANTM.
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Yesterday I revealed some interesting information
that I found online that men can get cellulite too!
Today I’ve decided to conduct a little bit of research to determine if those
overpriced cellulite creams actually do work.
Many magazine articles and
advertisements are devoted to finding a way to combat cellulite. Allure
magazine recently produced a book called Confessions of a Beauty Editor, when
asked what she thought of anti-cellulite creams, Linda Wells, the editor of
Allure said:
"This is one of the products
that women put so much hope in.
The results are really minor. A lot
of the products contain caffeine
and seaweed that reduce the water
in the skin and make it look slightly
firmer. I think that anybody would
be disappointed if they expect the
cellulite to go away."
Quackwatch.com,
which is a nonprofit corporation led by a team of doctors and health care
professionals is a great resource to help uncover some of the myths and frauds
in the nutrition and health industry. They provided some great insight to many
of the anti-cellulite solutions on the market, which I’ve briefly summarized
below:
- Body Wraps - body
wraps are marketed in salons in spas as a means to ‘melt away fat’ and
remove toxins. According to Quakwatch, body wraps may temporarily remove
excess water from the body, once the client eats or drinks they will
replace any lost fluid.
- Electrical Muscle
Stimulators (EMS) - muscle stimulators have been approved to work to
help to relax the muscles, increase blood circulations muscle
spasms, increase blood circulation, and be used for medical rehabilitation,
but according to Quakwatch, they have not been approved by the FDA to help
remove cellulite or wrinkles
- Cellasene - Cellasene is one of
the overpriced creams that is commonly sold in helath food stores and drug
stores that claims to help combat cellulite from ‘within’. Quackwatch
reports a study that was conducted on Cellasene and states that the product
does not have enough active ingredients to actually reduce the amount of cellulite.
- Liposuction - may help to
eliminate the appearance of cellulite temporarily, but as it can’t
completely transform the structure of the skin there is no guarantee that cellulite
will not return.
Sadly it appears that if you have cellulite
you’re stuck with it, but here are some ways to improve the texture of your
skin:
- Drink lots of water
- Reduce your caffeine intake
- Stop smoking
- Get active and perform exercises that target your lower
body such as squats, lunges, and running
- Take a high quality multi-vitamin
- Eat a balanced diet that’s high in fiber and rich in
fruits and vegetables
- Use a self tanner to help camouflage skin and reduce the
appearance of cellulite
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As a woman I know I’m plagued to get cellulite no matter
what I do. I’ve come to accept that I can spend as much time as I’d like on the
treadmill and apply bottle after bottle of anti-cellulite cream but if I’m
destined to get cellulite it’s going to happen no matter what.
I’ve also come to accept that men have it easy. Not only do
they not have to worry about monthly cramps or going through childbirth, but they also don’t have to worry about cellulite - or do they? I was reading
some articles on Google news and came across an interesting
one regarding men and cellulite and it turns out they can get cellulite too!
The article stated that men have thicker skin than women which
is why their cellulite often goes unnoticed. They also tend to store cellulite
differently than women. A woman would normally store cellulite on their butt or
thighs, men generally store fat deposits on their abs or back of their necks.
As I got thinking about cellulite I decided to do some
research on the topic and figure out why some of us are subjected to cottage-cheese
looking skin. Cellulite is not known as a medical condition but is classified
as having fatty deposits under your skin which have built up to give your skin
the appearance of dimply looking skin.
According to iVillage, Cellulite can
be caused by the following factors:
- Heredity - for some people it doesn’t matter what you do
to prevent it, you’re destined to get cellulite.
- Not enough water intake.
- Poor eating habits such as too much alcohol, caffeine, or
spicy foods, and saturated fats.
- Smoking because it weakens the skin and can cause constriction
of capillaries.
- Lack of exercise.
- Hormones and aging; as you get older or become pregnant
you can expect to experience an increase in cellulite.
You don’t need to be obese or
overweight to experience cellulite, in fact, according to cellulite.com 90% of
all women can expect to suffer from cellulite. Great, so it’s inevitable that
almost all women will experience nasty looking cellulite.
So what can be done to fight your
dimply skin? Stay tuned, tomorrow I’ll analyze some of the cellulite fighting
creams on the market and find out if they really do work.
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It’s time for another one of DietNation’s top 10 lists. Today I’ve decided to do the top 10 worst celebrity bodies. I’ve chosen the 10 bodies that I feel are unhealthy for a couple of reasons. Some have had far too much plastic surgery done, some have issues with fluctuating weight and some are just too skinny.
Anna Nicole Smith - Anna Nicole Smith made Trimspa famous and went through an incredible weight loss transformation. This blonde bombshell may have been a playmate in the ‘90’s but her figure now is definitely not playmate-worthy.
Janet Jackson - Janet may be known for having the nicest abs in the industry, but has she really achieved them on her own? Knowing her family’s track record for spending time with a plastic surgeon, it’s been speculated that she may have had some ribs removed to get her chiseled flat stomach. Another reason Ms. Jackson made the list is for her unhealthy fluctuating weight. Her small frame should not put on as much weight as she did earlier this year.
Kirstie Alley - it’s no secret that Kirstie Alley’s weight was out of control before she signed on with Jenny Craig. At 203 pounds she was an unhealthy weight for her size. She’s now lost about 75 pounds and even flaunted her slimmed down body on Oprah’s show in a bikini, but will she be able to keep the weight off for good? Kirstie made this list for letting herself get that out of control in the first place.
Tori Spelling - the positive outcome of Tori’s inheritance settlement is she won’t have a lot of extra money left over to get any more plastic surgery done. Although Tori is presently pregnant, she’s had so much work done on her body that it’s difficult to determine what’s real and what’s fake.
Victoria Beckham - Earth to Posh - you look like an alien! Seriously, have you seen pics of the former Spice Girl lately? She kind of resembles an alien. Victoria Beckham was definitely the hottest Spice Girl but lately she has been losing weight like crazy and could stand to pack on a few pounds to fill out her gaunt figure.
Star Jones - Star Jones seemed to slim down to a svelte size 8 overnight. She magically lost 150 pounds in no time and vehemently denied that she had gastric bypass surgery to melt off all those pounds. She confessed to having her breasts augmented and a tummy tuck, but continues to deny the bypass surgery.
Tara Reid - when Tara Reid was in American Pie she was a pretty blonde with a great body but now she’s spent a bit too much time with her plastic surgeon. Lately it seems Tara is making headlines for her unattractive surgeries and not her acting ability. She recently went public about her botched *** augmentation and it’s evident that she had some liposuction. Note to Tara: if you got yourself to the gym and cut down on the boozing you could get your body back naturally.
Keira Knightley - Keira has always been on the thin side but lately she has been taking things a little bit too far. She has absolutely no curves on her frame and I’m surprised she can still find clothes that fit.
Nicole Richie - last month Nicole admitted that she was going to a clinic to help her put on some weight. Nicole ranks on this list for having an unhealthy body B.W.L (before weight loss). Nicole was pudgy and downright unattractive when she appeared on the first season of the Simple Life. She also ranks on this list A.W.L. (after weight loss). We’ve all seen the skeletal images of Nicole - enough said.
Mariah Carey - I saw Mariah Carey in concert this summer and was shocked at how big she is up close. I had read all the stories about her losing a ton of weight this summer by following her own ‘morsel diet’ plan but was stunned at how big she really was. Mariah needs to get it into perspective and realize tube dresses and booty shorts aren’t flattering for every figure.
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It’s interesting that once someone makes it big in Hollywood they are
pressured to conform to a certain standard. If you look at some of the recent
winners of American Idol it’s evident that they were all pressured to lose
weight and transform their bodies.
Take Carrie Underwood, when Carrie was a contestant on
American Idol she was a normal healthy-looking girl from Oklahoma. This Country Girl looked good but was
the topic of some discussion regarding her size. Some people even speculated
she was ‘undesirable of landing a record deal.’ It’s so sad that a talented
female who happens to be a little big bigger could be under so much scrutiny. How
could anyone actually question her credibility as an artist when at the same
time you have pop star wannabe singers who easily land a record deal because
they look a certain way?
Then there’s Ruben Studdard. When Ruben won the 2003 season
of American Idol he weighed almost 400 pounds. This R&B singer has recently
lost almost 70 pounds. He decided to take his health into his own hands and signed
up with a weight management center at Duke University.
He cut his daily caloric intake and began following a vegetarian-style
lifestyle. Ruben just released a new album called “The Return”. We’ll have to wait and see if he keeps the
weight off or if it will return.
The original American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson is also
known for her fluctuating weight. When she beat out Justin in the first season
of American Idol Kelly was a bigger girl. She then lost quite a bit of weight
and began to wear more revealing clothing. Over the past year, Kelly has
started to look a little beefy, yet she continues to wear the same small
clothing sizes and spill out all over. Her stylist needs to pick it up a notch and
let Kelly know that a muffin top is not a good look.
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Does a chocolate a day keep the doctor away? Good news for
all of chocolate lovers out there. Recent research suggests that giving in to
your chocolate cravings might actually be beneficial for your health.
It’s true. But you can’t just reach for just any old
chocolate bar. You have to look for chocolate that contains at least 70% or
more cocoa solids. This is usually found in dark chocolate. A study published
by the American Health Association found dark chocolate contains flavonoids which are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants have
been found to reduce heart disease and can have positive effect on preventing
free radicals
A friend of mine works for a major chocolate company reported
that their dark chocolate sales have skyrocketed since this study was released.
Apparently, the company also sells a type of chocolate that is 99% cocoa. This
type of chocolate is for the ‘real chocolate connoisseurs’ and kind of tastes
like chalk. Can you handle it? If you’re a real chocolate fan this chocolate is
for you.
According to WebMd, dark chocolate, not milk chocolate
or white chocolate has been found to help lower blood pressure and may help
prevent the onset of heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a cornucopia of
nutrients including iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B, C,
D, and E. Dark chocolate doesn’t contain saturated fats so it won’t raise
cholesterol levels, but it does contain sugar and fat and can cause you to pack
on a few if you go overboard.
For all you PMS sufferers dark chocolate may be beneficial to
help alleviate some of those dreaded monthly symptoms as well. Dark chocolate contains
high levels of magnesium which has been proven to help increase pre-menstrual
progesterone levels. Forget Midol, the next time you’re feeling crampy reach
for a square of dark chocolate instead. Finally,
a reason to give into those monthly chocolate cravings!
Milk chocolate, on the other hand, contains a lot of extra
ingredients such as butter, milk fats, and sugars are added. Milk chocolate and
white chocolate are high in saturated fats and can actually raise blood
cholesterol levels.
Remember that even dark chocolate is still high in fat and calories.
So if you’re going to increase your daily chocolate intake be sure to watch
your portion sizes. A good way to do this is to purchase those individually
wrapped chocolate squares so you can restrict yourself from devouring an entire
chocolate bar.
So the next time a craving hits you can give in a
reach for a smooth and creamy piece of chocolate. Be sure you choose the dark stuff
and don’t go overboard, realize that overindulging in chocolate is not a recipe
for good health - everything in moderation is key.
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Former Fat Actress and Jenny Craig spokeswoman Kirstie Alley
appeared on the Oprah show yesterday wearing a - gasp - little bikini. Over a year ago Kirstie made a promise to
Oprah in an attempt to challenge and motivate herself to lose weight that she
would flaunt her body in a bikini on the Oprah
Winfrey Show. And yesterday she kept that promise by posing in a maroon
bikini on the show.
In 2004 Kirstie Alley signed on with Jenny Craig to endorse
their products and follow their diet program. She has remained faithful to the diet for
the past two years and has lost an astonishing 70 pounds. Kirstie’s successful
weight loss has been featured in Jenny Craig’s advertising campaign and she has
even kept her own personal blog outlining her weight loss journey on Jenny Craig’s
website.
In a recent post about her upcoming appearance on Oprah’s
show Kirstie posted:
"The most important reason I want to wear a bikini on Oprah,
however, is because if I, a 55-year-old woman, can look even halfway decent,
imagine how all of you could look in a bikini," she continues. "Hell,
I'll never look like Giselle, I never did! But maybe close to Bridget Jones or
a Dove girl or something that is just fine and healthy and happy, with no
surgery, no lipo and no drugs – that's saying something.”
Granted, every time one of her obnoxious commercials
promoting Jenny Craig comes on the television I immediately change the channel
or have an overwhelming urge to throw something at the TV. But Kirstie has done
a great job and she serves as an inspiration for women trying to lose weight.
The media blitz surrounding Alley’s weight loss has certainly spiked sales
for Jenny Craig. In an interview with
Jim Evans, the CEO of Jenny Craig which was posted on American Chronicle, Evans
stated that "Our business has been very strong since Kirstie Alley joined
our program. We are excited by the impact of her success, which has motivated
women and men nationwide to call our Centres and join the program. We are very
pleased to have such a powerful figure representing our company.
I’m not endorsing Jenny Craig and I feel only those who are financially
well-off can afford the overpriced food and weekly meetings, but the company
definitely got on the right bandwagon when they chose Kirstie Alley as their spokeswoman.
From staring in a reality show to appearing on Oprah showcasing her weight loss
Kirstie Alley has definitely helped promote Jenny Craig in a positive light.
I wouldn’t be caught dead in a bikini on Oprah’s show but
Kirstie is an inspiration to those struggling with their weight. However, both
Kirstie's and Oprah’s weight tends to fluctuate so drastically that it can’t be
healthy. If they would maintain their weight and stick to a healthy eating plan
and regular exercise program instead of jumping on every diet bandwagon maybe
they wouldn’t find their weight ballooning out of control and feel the need to
rely on such drastic measures to take the weight off.
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Chances are if you watched the news or listened to the radio
in the past couple of days you’ve been bombarded with information about how potentially harmful trans fats can be. I even discussed the fact that New York restaurants may put a ban on trans fats last week.
What I’ve noticed is that the media is
taking this topic area out of hand. It seems whenever a new study or tidbit of information
comes out we are overwhelmed with topic overload.
It’s only been in the past couple of years that the topics
of nutrition and health have become hot topics and everyone has jumped on the
band wagon. However, I sometimes feel this information overload really starts
to water down the information and the key messages. A study that was once attention-grabbing or
unique begins to get washed out when every radio station and newscaster
discusses it.
There’s even a website that’s strictly devoted to information
about trans fats, called bantransfats.com. They are the organization that sued Kraft
in 2003 to eliminate trans fats in their Oreo cookies and also sued McDonald’s
in 2003 for misinforming their consumers about the cooking oil they were using.
It’s great that the media is concentrating on nutrition and healthier
eating habits. It just seems that they seem to put all their focus on one study or finding and
that seems to become the obsession. A more balanced approach to nutrition is important.
Yes, it’s critical that individuals take responsibility for their own health and
reduce the amount of trans fats in their diet. But leading a healthier
lifestyle takes more than just changing one lifestyle habit.
When so much emphasis is put on one topic people begin to forget
that living a healthier lifestyle encompasses more than just cutting out trans
fats from their diet. They should also be watching their sodium intake,
exercising more, and watching their portion sizes. It’s the holistic approach
to weight loss and living a healthier lifestyle that will ultimately prevent
diseases and make you look and feel better.
The media should serve as an advocate for better health for
the public not a broken record that reports the same research over and over.
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To mix things up, every Friday I’m going to start making top
10 celebrity lists. This week the topic will be the top 10 celebrity bodies. These
are the celebrities I rank as having the best bodies in Hollywood.
Shakria - this
singer’s hips certainly don’t lie. Shakira ranks on our list for her voluptuous
and curvy figure. Shakria can certainly shake her thing and sticks to her
Columbian roots by maintaining her signature booty.
Halle Berrry - not only is Halle one of the most beautiful women in the
world but her naturally curvy athletic physique always looks slamming.
Scarlett Johansson
- Scarlett seems to be popping up everywhere theses days, but there’s no
denying that her body is sensational. She’s not too small and has curves in all
the right places.
Jessica Alba - there’s
a good reason why Jessica Alba was ranked as AskMen’s sexiest women of the year
this year. This sultry superhero’s flawless physique definitely turns heads.
Eva Longoria - this
Latina beauty may
flaunt it all on the hit series Desperate Housewives, but she can certainly get
away with it with a body like that. Eva’s perfectly sculpted body gets a thumbs
up in our books.
Kate Hudson -
this newly divorced blonde bombshell keeps it real. This natural beauty doesn’t
conform to Hollywood’s
standards. She looks healthy and lean and is definitely a girl who knows how to
flaunt her best assets.
Sarah Jessica Parker
- this former Sex and the City star can rock almost any style with her
undeniably fit body. Hands down she has the best gams on TV and wears her Manolo’s
like no other.
Tyra Banks - she
may be a drama queen on America’s
Next Top Model, but Tyra’s body is unmistakably fabulous. Tyra kept it real by
recently undergoing a sonogram on her talk show to squash rumors that she had
implants.
Salma Hayek - some
have speculated that this Hispanic star is not completely natural, but there’s
no controversy that her curvaceous body is hot hot hot.
Carmen Electra -
newly single Carmen has certainly whipped her body into top-notch shape. You
can find out how to get a body like this beautiful brunette’s by following her “Fit
to Strip” DVD.
What do you think? I’d love to hear from you. Do you think
these celebs have the best bodies? Who would make your list of top 10?
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