Gotta love the traditional Fourth of July celebrations! A lazy morning, followed by a bring-it-on BBQ:

• Potato chips and corn chips with plenty of sour cream mixed with onion dip mixture, then a choice of fat, sizzling hot dogs or hamburgers slapped onto oversize white hot dog or hamburger buns. Slather on the mayonnaise, and pile into that potato salad and coleslaw.
• There’s plenty of soda pop to drink, of course. And what could be more traditional for dessert than chocolate-coated ice cream bars, with chocolate chip cookies and thickly frosted cupcakes? Yum.
• Just before the firecrackers go off, it’s time to bring out more food: sandwiches composed of bologna, cheese, mayonnaise, and other goodies; more chips and dip, assorted salads with plenty of rich thousand island salad dressing, and more ice cream for dessert.

The next day, you experience a vicious food hangover, have trouble getting into your slacks, and wish you’d followed your virtuous diet plan.

Halt! It’s not too late to re-think that fourth of July celebration…and subsequent summer picnics as well.  How about celebrating the summer holidays and sunny days the celebrity way?

• Set aside the soda pop and substitute zero-calorie water.  If you hate plain water, try HINT Essence Water from www.drinkhint.com, a favorite of celebrities such as Blake Lively, Kristen Stewart, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cryrus, Lauren Conrad, and Victoria Beckham. Available in such fabulous flavors as strawberry kiwi, pear, and watermelon, HINT is calorie-free and carb-free, contains no preservatives, and actually tastes like real fruit (instead of chemicals mixed up in a lab).
• Corn chips, potato chips, and high calorie, high fat dips get tossed. Instead, try assorted raw veggies dunked into low-fat or fat-free salad dressing. Lots of crunch and munch value without the cost to your diet!
• Cancel those big fat buns slathered with mayonnaise adorned with greasy hamburgers and hot dogs!  Try low-fat tofu dogs or lean ground beef, and enjoy fresh sliced tomatoes, thin slices of purple onion, romaine lettuce, and grilled mushrooms and zucchini.  Satisfying and will fill you up, not out!  Check out the typical photos of slim celebrities on a picnic — odds are that you’ll see lots of veggies and very few mayonnaise-coated potato salads or hot dogs.
• As for dessert: hey, it’s summer! Dive into those summer fruits: fresh peaches, strawberries, nectarines, watermelon…and don’t forget the sugar-free popsicles, only 10 to 15 calories each.

Now, get ready for your celebrity-worthy close-up!

Source

Summer is officially here.  The clothes are coming off as we go to the beach or pool, and people want to look their best.  So I compiled 5 fitness and weight-loss secrets that celebrities use to create and keep amazing beach bodies:

#1.  Marissa Miller – Don’t drink your calories: Marissa told Cosmo “I hadn’t had soda in about five years, and I came home to find this thing in the fridge that rolls soda cans out like a dispenser.  I’m like, ‘What are you doing to me?’” referring to her husband’s new soda dispenser.

My comment: There are almost no beverages with calories that aren’t just pure sugar – juice included.  Sugar spikes insulin and insulin makes you tired, fat and hungry.

#2. Jason Statham – No refined sugar or flour at all: “That’s the hardest part right there,” says Stratham.  But it helped him drop 17lbs in 6 weeks.

#3. Jessica Alba and Eva Longoria – Do squats and lunges:

My comment: A hard body takes hard exercise.  Its squats and lunges, not jogging that gets you buns and thighs like Jessica and Eva.  They rev up your metabolism and have a hormonal impact after the workout that keeps your body burning fat.

#4. Elisabeth Röhm (Law and Order) – Stay away from the carbs: “[Its not just about looking good] I want to do a lot of things in life, and more protein makes me more energetic,” Röhm told USA Today.

My comment: Most people in Hollywood have figured out that eating fewer carbs and more protein makes you look and feel a lot better, but somehow this is controversial when you ask a Dietician.

#5. Katherine Heigl – Swing something heavy: “Three days ago, I did kettlebells – I think everyone should do them,” Heigl told Red Magazine.

My comment: Kettlebells are Russian workout tools that look like little cannon balls with handles on top of them.  They’re really versatile and fun to work with.  Most gyms don’t have them, but you can usually get away with a dumbbell instead.

Source

Carrie Underwood dropped almost 15 pounds by not overindulging (cheese is a weakness of hers) and keeping a food journal. Her go-to snack of choice? Kashi bars, according to AOL Health.

Celebrities like Heidi Klum, Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts and Kate Hudson swear by Exhale Spa’s Core Fusion classes, and I have to say, I do too. These classes, which combine ballet moves with Pilates and Yoga, dramatically tone your abs, legs, and arms.  There is an Exhale Spa in Chicago and it offers several Core Fusion classes throughout the week. Or, order a DVD of the workout.

Boston Fitness Examiner, Sarah Dussault, did a story on weight loss tips from celebrities on Dancing with the Stars. A couple celebrity tips from her story include Lil’ Kim whose secret is the meal delivery company Freshology and Chelsie Hightower who, says Dussault, “In the off season, she hits the gym 6 times a week, for 30 minutes of cardio and an hour of strength training with light weights and high reps.  A typical meal? Egg whites and yogurt for breakfast, a chicken sandwich for lunch, prunes for a snack and salad and fruit for dinner.”

Kim Kardashian has diet “confidential” tips of her own. Kardashian was also a Dancing with the Stars contestant. Her snacks of choice are granola, almonds and sliced fruits. Her typical lunch while training for Dancing with the Stars was a chicken salad. Nutritionists do warn that granola has been full of calories (500 calories or more per cup).

Diet.com says Beyonce stays slim eating a “tiny lunch” of six slices of tomato and four slices of cucumber. Diet.com also says Beyonce runs intervals/sprints for exercise and does yoga.

Madonna stays toned and slim by eating organic whole foods, loaded with lean proteins that comprises most of her macrobiotic diet of  whole grains, beans, vegetables and some meats and fish. She also avidly practices Ashtanga yoga.

Source

Looking at Melissa Joan Hart’s new 113-lb. bikini body, it’s hard to believe it was only last summer she felt “horrified” by the unflattering bathing suits shots taken of her at a Southern California beach.

“I still read blogs about me discussing how fat I’ve become,” the former Sabrina, the Teenage Witch star tells PEOPLE in the new issue, available on newsstands Friday.

“Everyone still thinks I’m huge,” says Hart, 33, whose post-pregnancy body was the subject of cruel Internet attacks after she gave birth to sons Mason, 3, and Braydon, 14 months, with husband, Course of Nature lead singer Mark Wilkerson, 32. “But I’m not anymore!”

Hart understands the confusion. After all, the public has grown accustomed to seeing celebs get back in their skinny jeans mere weeks after giving birth. “There are enormous pressures put on you in Hollywood,” she says.

Her inspiration to finally get back in the best shape of her life? The women in her life, including her friend, actress Jaime Pressly, who has a son, Dezi, 2, as well as her own mom Paula, who gave birth to seven children “and is tiny!” Hart says. “I realized I didn’t have to be heavy just because I have kids.”

Adds Pressly: “She finally took the time to take care of herself. I’m blown away by how amazing she looks.”

Reclaiming her slim figure took Hart 14 months of hard work. “It didn’t happen by magic – it was as hard for me as it would be for anyone else,” she says. The fact that it took a little longer doesn’t bother her. “I didn’t want to take any time away from spending it with my sons,” she explains.

To get back in bikini shape, Hart worked with nutritionist Derek Johnson at New Metabolism to change her diet. She also hit the gym with her trainer Mark Harari at Pulse Fitness Studio.

As for how she feels now? “I feel amazing!” she says. “I had to prove to myself that I could do it. I had to give it a go!”
Source

Kareena and sister Karisma were the celebrity contestants on the opening episode of Salmana’s TV show ‘10 Ka Dum’ on Saturday (May 30) night.

Salman was at his humorous best and kept joking with both the sisters.

Salman, who has taken Aamir Khan’s advice and quit drinking, passed it on to Kareena, who has lost a lot of weight in the recent past and now flaunts an eye-popping body.

Salman told Kareena to be careful and not lose too much weight, as men prefer women with some flesh. He also said that losing too much weight affects the face and one stops looking attractive. Finally he passed a light hearted statement warning Kareena not to stand in front of the fan or she might just fly away.

It was then Karisma’s turn. However, Salman complimented Karisma for her perfect figure and also spoke about the flops the two had together!

MANILA, Philippines – It has been a practice of busy women preparing for their wedding to eat less and neglect exercise. If you resort to starvation, you’d regain the weight during honeymoon.

The best weight loss strategy combines regular physical activity and a sustainable eating plan even after the wedding.

Early preparations

Your wellness program should be planned at least four to six months before your wedding.

Set your lifestyle goals. How much weight do you want to lose? If you have 10 pounds to lose, you should target at least two pounds every month. If you have 30 pounds to lose, better start sweating it out as early as now so you can lose an average of five pounds per month. Avoid over-dieting and using weight loss pills.

Set a budget for wellness. Allocate at least five to 10 percent of your budget for your wedding wellness program. Enroll in a health club or buy exercise equipment which costs less than P5,000.

Hire a credible fitness/wellness professional to coach you every week or every two weeks on your six-month eating and exercise program so you can get faster results.

Spend time for exercise. Delegate the wedding tasks to your friends and family or get a wedding coordinator.

Start your weight training program so you can get a toned body, especially your arms and back. Full body weight training can be done 30-45 minutes two to three times a week. Include all exercises for the back, chest, shoulders, arms, core, buttocks and thighs.

Start a journal on your food intake and physical activities. Combine your wedding notebook with the wellness journal so you are always reminded about your commitment to health and fitness.

Two to four months before:

Ask your fiancé to exercise with you at least once a week so you will get the chance to talk more about your lifestyle goals. This fitness bonding is important so both of you will avoid the “after-wedding” weight gain.

Include fitness and wellness items in your wedding registry. This is a good idea for your outdoor getaway like a tent for hiking and camping.

One to two months before:

Shop for clothes in smaller sizes as reward. This will motivate you to continue your wellness program by moving more and eating healthy.

Treat yourself in the spa. Enroll in a yoga class with your fiancé to learn how to breathe properly.

A few days to two weeks before:

Do the easiest and most accessible type of physical activity you can do at home or around your village like walking or jogging.

Avoid saucy and fatty foods. Get enough rest so you can physically and mentally prepare yourself for your most-awaited day.

Source

People who are overweight or obese in middle-age run the risk of being frail in later life, say Finnish researchers.

A study of more than 1,000 men found the highest risk of death and illness in those who put on weight in their 40s but lost it when they got older.

It is thought that the heart risk associated with middle-aged spread puts men at risk of “frailty” even if they have no obvious illness.

The research is published in the European Heart Journal.

The researchers said obesity was a very well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. But paradoxically, studies have also shown that in older patients with heart failure, being overweight may be somewhat protective.

In the latest study, the team followed the men from age 25 through to their 70s.

This study reinforces the importance of maintaining a healthy weight throughout our lives to help prevent heart disease Alasdair Little, British Heart Foundation

As expected, those who put on weight in their 40s had a worse prognosis in middle age than those who stayed a normal weight.

However, when looking at health in later life a different picture emerged.

Those who were overweight in middle age but lost weight in later life had the highest risk of death and morbidity in their 70s.

That group also had the highest cardiovascular risk in middle age.

The weight loss, which was probably not intentional, could not be explained by diseases such as cancer or heart failure.

‘Frailty syndrome’

Study leader Dr Timo Strandberg, said it seemed the unhealthy pattern of weight in their 40s was causing frailty in later life probably due to underlying cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure and early stages of diabetes.

“Frailty syndrome”, where older people have weight loss, muscle weakness, exhaustion and struggle with even small amounts of physical activity, is attracting increasing attention from old-age researchers.

It seems to be common but in these patients there is no obvious reason, such as cancer.

“It is important because frailty is associated with death and a great deal of disability,” he said.

He said doctors should pay particular attention to this group.

“It is important to notice it early.”

The researchers are planning further work to find out which group has the best health – perhaps those who are normal weight throughout life or those who gain a bit of weight but not until they are in their 60s and 70s.

Alasdair Little, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation said: “This study reinforces the importance of maintaining a healthy weight throughout our lives to help prevent heart disease.

“Being obese can also lead to the development of other known risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.”

Source

She’s made a career in such action movies as Resident Evil, but Milla Jovovich “is not someone who embraces exercise,” says her trainer Harley Pasternak. Combine that with her ability to down three peanut-butter-and-jelly slathered bagels, and her weight soared to 192 lbs. while pregnant with daughter Ever Gabor, born last November. With only five months to prep for bikini scenes in her next film, A Perfect Getaway, the 5′9″ actress signed up for five-day-a-week workouts with Pasternak, who also cooked for her. His 5 Factor books prescribe three meals and two snacks daily, each including five elements: protein, complex carbs, fiber, fat and fluids. (See box for a typical menu.) He also calls for circuit training, focusing on “upper body, lower body, abs and cardio.” Crunches tightened her abs—but, says Pasternak, the real credit for getting Jovovich, 32, to her 130-lb. pre-baby weight goes to “bringing structure to her diet after eating whatever.” Now, he adds, “She’s back to being a hot mom.”

Source: people archive

When I saw the headlines and heard the news reports about a new study that concluded diet doesn’t matter as long as the calories are low, I had mixed thoughts.

I was pleased that it was published in an actual journal, wondered if it were as definitive as it sounded, and reflected on how I learned calories were the key as a teenager. I was overweight and lost pounds by eating less and moving more. Since I’ve always been in the “calorie camp,” I was curious if this study would hold up with the people who make money by contending the problem lies with a calorie source, rather than the calorie itself. Before we answer that question, here is what we do know:

• When researchers can precisely control energy intake and output in the laboratory, weight loss parallels energy deficit, rather than the energy source.
• In the real world of “free feeding,” very few people measure, monitor and accurately track what they eat.
• In the real world, most people with excess weight tend to underestimate activity.
• Whenever people pay attention to energy intake and output (a common occurrence with a new diet), weight loss happens.
• Diets stop working because once the weight begins to come off, the dieter’s attention to detail wanes.
• There are many ways for the masses to lose weight, but only a few for the individual.
• If calories are not counted, the importance of their source rises because different sources and different ratios satiate each person differently.
• A high percentage of people who don’t regain weight don’t stop monitoring their food choices and physical output. A low percentage of these people keep the weight off by restricting a single macronutrient.

The Study

Eight hundred and eleven volunteers were divided into four dietary groups (see table) and followed for two years. Intervention consisted of 18 group meetings in the first six months and 36 meetings in the next 18 months, along with 12 individual meetings over 24 months. There were also questionnaires and diet diaries. Each participant was given a target calorie breakdown (percentage of daily calories to be consumed from carbohydrates, protein and fat) based on their group designation.

Study Group	Target Calorie Breakdown (%) (Carb-Protein-Fat)	Actual Calorie Breakdown (%) (Carb-Protein-Fat)
Low fat, high carb	65-15-20	57-17-26
Low fat, high protein	55-25-20	53-21-26
High fat, moderate protein	45-15-40	49-18-34
High fat, high protein, low carb	35-25-40	43-34-23

The study stated that “each participant’s caloric prescription represented a deficit of 750 kcal per day from baseline, as calculated from the person’s resting energy expenditure and activity level. The greatest weight loss occurred in the first six months in all groups. All groups lost between 12 and 13 pounds. At two years, subjects who completed the study still weighed 7 to 9 pounds less. The researchers concluded, “Reduced-calorie diets result in clinically meaningful weight loss regardless of which macronutrients they emphasize.”¹

For many years, I have agreed with this statement. Those who don’t will point out the obvious problems with this study: As the table reveals, not one of the four groups met the macronutrient target despite extensive intervention. For example, the high-carb group (65-15-20 target) actually consumed 57 percent daily carbs, while the low-carb group (35-25-40 target) consumed 43 percent carbs. Low-carb advocates will say the low-carb group didn’t have an actual low-carb diet, while high-carb supporters will say the high-carb group didn’t have a high-carb diet. This means that even though the study authors feel the issue is resolved, the paper will do little to change the minds of those who believe calories are secondary to a macronutrient imbalance when it comes to weight loss.

Reference

1. Sacks FM, Bray GA, Carey VJ, et al. Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein and carbohydrates. N Engl J Med, 2009;360:859-73.

Source