Yelp: this is why i'm phat

this is why i'm phat

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Fit Tip of the Day

Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin C - it is important for growth and repair of all body tissues, helps heal cuts and wounds, and keeps teeth and gums healthy.

Beauty Tip of the Day

If someone passes a negative comment towards you, ignore it. They're most likely just jealous of something you've got!

Why I Love L.A.

I've been having a hard time re-adjusting to life in L.A. Living w/my parents, traffic, the price of gas... Yesterday I drove about 45 miles North of L.A. to Camarillo to do some shopping at the outlets. Instead of taking the freeway back I decided to drive through the canyon and hit PCH. It was such a clear day. I pulled my car over and just stared at the ocean.

There are a lot of things wrong with Los Angeles. But when you're able to drive a mere 10 minutes and see this it makes up for all the bad stuff!

Have a great day!

French Women Don't Get Fat

Stylish, convincing, wise, funny and just in time: the ultimate non-diet book, which could radically change the way you think and live.
French women don't get fat, but they do eat bread and pastry, drink wine, and regularly enjoy three-course meals. In her delightful tale, Mireille Guiliano unlocks the simple secrets of this "French paradox" -– how to enjoy food and stay slim and healthy. Hers is a charming, sensible, and powerfully life-affirming view of health and eating for our times.

As a typically slender French girl, Mireille went to America as an exchange student and came back fat. That shock sent her into an adolescent tailspin, until her kindly family physician, "Dr. Miracle," came to the rescue. Reintroducing her to classic principles of French gastronomy plus time-honored secrets of the local women, he helped her restore her shape and gave her a whole new understanding of food, drink, and life. The key? Not guilt or deprivation but learning to get the most from the things you most enjoy. Following her own version of this traditional wisdom, she has ever since relished a life of indulgence without bulge, satisfying yen without yo-yo on three meals a day.

Now in simple but potent strategies and dozens of recipes you'd swear were fattening, Mireille reveals the ingredients for a lifetime of weight control–from the emergency weekend remedy of Magical Leek Soup to everyday tricks like fooling yourself into contentment and painless new physical exertions to save you from the StairMaster. Emphasizing the virtues of freshness, variety, balance, and always pleasure, Mireille shows how virtually anyone can learn to eat, drink, and move like a French woman.

What's Yelp?

Yelp is the new and fun way to find, review and talk about what's great - and not so great - in your neighborhood and beyond, everything from cool restaurants and bars to doctors and yoga instructors.

This site has been a life saver! When my brother and I drove from Atlanta to Los Angeles I Yelped all the way! When you're in Ft. Smith, Arkansas you don't know where to eat! The Yelp reviews were so helpful and so right on point.

I just think its a great site and I wanted to tell you all about it!

Check it out some of my reviews @ http://nec1908.yelp.com

Dinner for Breakfast

Wanna know what I had for breakfast this morning? A broiled salmon filet and roasted broccoli. Wanna know why? Its called the Reverse Diet. The premise is that you could lose weight by eating dinner for breakfast. The author, Tricia Cunningham, lost over 170 pounds using this simple technique and had maintained her weight loss for over 7 years.

What the heck. I'll try anything once!

http://www.reversedietsolution.com/

Finally!

This has nothing to do with weight loss but I'm glad somebody is finally agreeing with me!!!!

According to TMZ, Barry Manilow has pulled out of his scheduled appearance on "The View" tomorrow -- because he strongly disagrees with host Elisabeth Hasselbeck's conservative view! In an exclusive statement to TMZ, Barry says, "I strongly disagree with her views. I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as her." Barry, taking a stand!

I am praying that she goes off to have that baby and never comes back!

WTF

I have no idea who Maggie Grace is but she looks like a hoochie in this outfit.

Emmy Awards 2005

There were lots of really skinny women on the red carpet at the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards which was held at the Shrine Auditorium last night.

*Yawn*

Hip(s) Hop

Ice-T's "wife" Coco is really interesting....

Who walks down the street dressed like that?

Fit Tip of the Day

Replace a coffee break with a brisk 10-minute walk. Ask a friend to go with you.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Go through life feeling beautiful every second, no matter what you are wearing or how your hair or make-up looks. You are always beautiful!

Help!

I really need to detox from sugar! Sugar is my enemy!!! But I love it soooo much!

Back on track

So you guys know I've been temping for the last 6 weeks and I've been miserable! So yesterday was my last day and I don't start my new job until October 1. My plan is to work my ass off excercising until then. Have I started? Um, not yet.

I went to the doctor on Tuesday and found out what I'd already suspected, I've gained a few pounds back, I'm totally devestaed! I really am. But I'm not going to let it bring me down. I know that I'm an emotional eater. And with my life in a bit of flux right now, I know I've been living on sugar - alot of sugar. But I'm hoping that with my new career will come a more positive outlook on things and I'll finally be able to get my shyt together.

Wish me luck!

So Confused

Seriously though, what the hell happened to Jenna Jameson?

Little Thing of the Week

What's the best (or worst) thing about new beginnings?

Have a story to share? Post it!

The Little Things Online

It's Britney Biyatch!

Ok, here's my take on the whole Britheny Spears MTV VMA BS. Is Britney fat? Absolutely not - in the real world. However, in the world of the celebrity, having a itty bitty touch of fat is a sin. Britney Spears had two kids in two years. Even though we've seen numerous pictures of her in fishnet stockings going to and from "dance" class, every woman knows that it takes time for your body to recover from childbirth and its never going to be the same as it was before you popped out those kids.

There is no reason that she should have worn a bra and panties on that stage. And I have no doubt that if she had rocked that performance less people would be talking about her being "fat". However, she didn't rock it. She moved in slow motion which gave us every chance to see each and every imperfection on her body.

I think that Britney is a good performer, not the strongest singer, but she's had some catchy tunes. I feel sorry for her. I feel bad that she's had a rough couple of years - even though she is 100% responsible for what has happened to her. As Heather knows, I've always thought that Kevin Federline got a raw deal in the press and I think that more people are starting to see that Britney isn't that 14 year old girl any more and she's got some issues.

She needs help and I truly hope that someone comes into her life - Dr. Phil - and really talks some sense into her. She needs to go get herself a house on some island and lay low for a few months and get her shyt together. Why does she go to Ralph's and Rite Aid Every Day! Doesn't she have people to do that kinda stuff?


Ok. I'm Done.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Instead of that Coke, try a glass of water. It may not be as tasty, but it's a lot better for you than drinking almost ten teaspoons (50 ml) of white sugar. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes.

Drinking water helps you look good. By flushing out toxins and impurities, water can make your skin clearer, smoother and younger looking.

I'm NEVER giving up Coke!

Want to be a skinny bitch?

Don’t worry about calling Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin a pair of skinny bitches. Just don’t try to get them back on the double-bacon-and-cheeseburger diets of their youth.

“We’ve been called a lot worse,” giggles Freedman, who with her best friend Barnouin is co-author of “Skinny Bitch,” the snappiest-titled diet book on the market.

Subtitled, “A no-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous,” it features a drawing of a skinny young woman on the cover and a picture of the two skinny authors on the back.

Written in a flip, “hey girlfriend” style in which expletives are not spared and eating meat is denounced as the “dead, rotting, decomposing flesh diet,” “Skinny Bitch” quickly became a word-of-mouth hit upon publication in December 2005. More than 200,000 copies are currently in print, according to its publisher, Running Press of Philadelphia.

It got a significant international boost in May when L.A.’s hottest skinny celebrity, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, playfully held up a copy at the trendy Kitson’s boutique in Hollywood while paparazzi clicked away.

“She never bought the book — she just picked it up,” Fraser Ross, the store’s owner, told The Associated Press.

But no matter, “Skinny Bitch,” shot up top sellers lists in Beckham’s native England and broke through to the No. 3 spot on The New York Times paperback advice list of best sellers.
“It’s always been a steady seller, but I would say the Posh Spice thing just gave it this extra boost,” said Jennifer Kasius, the book’s editor at Running Press.

Beckham was not immediately available for comment, but for Freedman, the public’s post-Posh embrace is just the latest example of “one of those kind of Kismet things where the stars align.”
It all began, she said, four years ago when Barnouin, who had been converted by Freedman to a vegan diet, began insisting the two had to “change the world” and get people to eat better.
Freedman’s initial reaction: “What can we do?”

“And then one day I called her and I said we’re going to write a book, that’s what were going to do,” she recalled.

“And the rest was history,” laughs Barnouin as the two sit at a window table in one of West Hollywood’s hippest organic-vegetarian restaurants and share a plate of vegan pasta and a vegan club sandwich.

“I can put some of this on a plate for you to try,” says Freedman, offering up a forkful of pasta as she continues with the pair’s efforts to turn the world into a healthier place one eater at a time.
Freedman, dressed in a midriff-baring top, and Barnouin, wearing a short brown skirt, certainly strike effortless poses for the benefits of the “Skinny Bitch” diet. Although both are trim and proud of it, neither is so skinny as to be mistaken for one of the many young TV actresses, models or movie stars who haunt the neighborhood.

But while the two say weight was never a problem for them, eating right was. And it made their personalities, well, less than personable.

“We both used to be really negative, angry, unhappy and miserable people,” the upbeat, outgoing Freedman says of their pre-vegan days when she and her friend were known to consume burger after burger, as well as a hot dog or two and plenty of french fries.

Now Freedman, who has converted her parents to a vegan diet, and Barnouin, who feeds her husband and their infant son vegan meals, are out to show the world a person can eat healthy, look good and still enjoy his or her food.

Perhaps more than the pejorative title, though, the book has raised objections from some readers who complained they thought they were getting a diet guide and wound up with something closer to an anti-meat treatise. The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, for example, is praised in the book and cited as one of its sources.

Barnouin and Freedman make no apologies. Not just vegetarians, they are vegans, a subset that not only eschews eating meat but won’t touch any fish or dairy products either, meaning no eggs or cheese. They complain that the animals used in the food industry are not treated humanely and such food is not safely prepared.

One critic, registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, doesn’t object that the book promotes a vegan lifestyle but that it doesn’t include information on things such as serving sizes, calories, protein, fat and vitamins that are needed to ensure that people are eating right.

“A vegan lifestyle can be healthy, but it takes more planning than most other types of diets to ensure no deficiencies, especially of protein, iron, zinc, calcium, Vitamin-D, B12 and omega-three fatty acids,” said Blatner, who is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
But she added that there is a place in the world of diet books for “Skinny Bitch.”

“If you’re looking for an introduction to a couple of women who are following a vegan lifestyle, some humor throughout and maybe a couple meal ideas, this is a good read,” she said. “But if you’re really trying to do vegan lifestyles in a healthy way, there are other sources from the American Dietetic Association that you could feel more confident about.”

Barnouin, a former model who did most of the book’s research, said she did correspondence courses with Clayton College of Natural Health, a non-accredited natural health school, which gave her a degree in holistic nutrition.

Freedman, a former modeling agent who once represented Barnouin, did most of the writing, coming up with such jazzy lines as “Soda is liquid Satan” and “Beer is for frat boys, not skinny bitches.”

That latter line, as well as the book’s title, could give the impression “Skinny Bitch” was written for women. But that’s not the case, say the authors, who have received their share of fan letters from men. One endorsement in particular that filled Freedman with pride came from a radio station interviewer who told her that “Skinny Bitch” reads “like it was written by a dude.”

It’s proved so popular that Barnouin and Freedman have signed a contract for two more books.

Their cookbook, “Skinny Bitch in the Kitch,” is due out in December and they are currently working on “Skinny Bitch Mamma,” a how-to-eat guide for pregnant women.

Little Thing of the Week

"What do you do when you need some good 'me' time?"

Got a story to share? Post it!

www.thelittlethingsonline.com

Beauty Tip of the Day

Think of yourself as attractive. No one has the right to judge how you look but you, and if you decide to be good-looking, then that is what you will portray and that is what you will be!

SUPER Star

So if you've watched any tv at all this week you've seen Star Jones "admitting" to having gastric bypass surgery while promoting her new tv show. What a shock! Is this woman really that delusional that she thinks making an "announcement" will repair her jacked up image?

When asked why she's been lying for 4 years Star says, "I was scared of what other people would think. … For some strange reason, I thought — and it crippled me — that it would diminish who I was," she said. "Everything about my life was so public, mostly through my own doing. … When I lost weight, I somehow thought I was just going to say I'm going to be private about it."

She's also admitted that since undergoing gastric bypass surgery, she's had a breast lift and surgery to remove excess skin on her stomach. A size 26 in 2003, Star now wears a size 8. But she said surgery isn't the sole explanation for her new figure.

Of course not! Everyone knows you have to drink red bull and do pilates to lose weight!

Hoodia

Have any of you ever tried Hoodia Gordonii? It seems to be the new "natural" weight loss wonder pill. According to reports, Hoodia is very different from diet stimulants like Ephedra and Phenfen that are now banned because of dangerous side effects. Hoodia doesn't stimulate at all. Scientists say it fools the brain by making you think you’re full, even if you've eaten just a morsel.

Evidently, the San people of South Africa have been using the hoodia cactus to successfully stave of the worst hunger pangs imaginable for days at a time without unwanted side effects.

If you wanna give it a shot, try DEX-L10 South African Hoodia Gordonii and let me know if it works for you.

Fit Tip of the Day

Eat a balanced diet by including all the food groups at the correct portions. Break your meals into six separate, evenly spaced meals during your waking hours.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Consider going to a proper, expensive hairdresser. The extra money is worth it, and the products they use are much better quality.

More smoothies cutting the calories

SEATTLE - Concerned about losing the calorie-conscious, smoothie makers are whipping up no-sugar and faux-sugar blends.

That Orange Twister will saddle you with just 140 calories.

Smoothie companies are increasingly focusing much of their marketing muscle on winning over the ultra-health-conscious consumer — especially those trying to eat less sugar.

“There are a lot of folks that aren’t hindered by high sugar, but we do know that there’s a significant percentage that are, and we think that number’s growing all the time,” said Jim Baskett, an executive with the Seattle-area chain Emerald City Smoothie.

Many makers are turning to Splenda, the zero-calorie artificial sweetener. Some have drinks that are only fruit and juice. Executives at several smoothie companies say the low-sugar offerings have fared impressively — right alongside popular higher-cal versions.

1,270 calorie whopper - The smoothie industry has been on an upward climb in recent years, with many chains big and small expanding their reach with new stores.

In 1997, there were just under 1,000 juice and smoothie bars in the U.S., pulling in an estimated $340 million in revenue. Today, there are roughly 5,000 of them, with 2007 sales projected at $2.5 billion, according to Juice Gallery Multimedia, a publishing and consulting firm that provides support services for the businesses.

In the beginning, many customers were health nuts. But the appeal now is much more mainstream and many of the offerings defy a healthy label by calorie count alone.

Take The Blender, a 1,270-calorie whopper made with chocolate or vanilla protein, peanut butter, banana, milk and ice cream, made by Emerald City. And there’s Anne Kessler’s favorite, the Mocha Bliss, another of the chain’s more indulgent offerings. “It just tastes good,” she said, sipping down a tall one recently in her neighborhood smoothie shop.

But for her 2-year-old daughter, Kessler only orders from the low-sugar menu. Usually it’s a banana-strawberry-papaya concoction with less than half the calories of her chocolatey choice.
Emerald City, which is gearing up to expand beyond a handful of Western states into Hawaii and New York, is among the Splenda users. So is Jamba Juice, a company based in the San Francisco area that last year also introduced a line with no added sweeteners.

Smoothie King, headquartered in the New Orleans area, sweetens many of its drinks with honey and raw cane sugar. But it allows customers to “Make It Skinny” by skipping the sugar, with a Splenda option.

Freshens Smoothie Company, a unit of Atlanta-based Freshens Quality Brands, offers some Splenda-sweetened drinks and prominently posts on its menu boards that 21-ounce servings of each contain less than 155 calories.

Boosting nutrientsAlong with the trend toward Splenda are other new ingredients — unrelated to calorie counts — that smoothie makers are hoping will entice. There’s acai (pronounced AH-sigh-ee), a Brazilian berry touted as an antioxidant. There are plant sterols, soy and something called conjugated linoleic acid. Freshens is considering tweaking its yogurt base to add probiotics, a trendy food additive that some claim boost the immune system.

In general, consumer health advocates applaud efforts to make smoothies healthier. But serving sizes remain a frustration for the experts.

“When I was growing up, we had 6-ounce servings of orange juice. ... People don’t drink 6 ounces of anything anymore,” said Marion Nestle, a nutrition expert and professor at New York University. The standard size of smoothies in many stores is 24 ounces.

Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a health advocacy group, questions why people seem so eager to gulp their fruits in giant single servings rather than eating them whole — an apple here, an orange there.

“The idea is to fill up on fruit and vegetables so you have less room for calorie-dense food,” she said.

Smoothie companies say most of their customers use smoothies as meal replacements.

Ummmm so not sexy

Not to long ago Jenna Jameson was the hot adult film star who's career couldn't get any better. Now that she's gone, legit, she's turned into this rail thin, kinda gross shell of what she used to be.

Seriously, what is going on w/these women? Is it really that easy to starve yourself? Because let me tell you I've tried and was not very successful!

Tired of spin classes? Try Wii workout station

A Canadian health club is offering a new form of exercise for people bored with the treadmill or cycling classes — the Wii Workout Station.

Studeo 55 in Vancouver, British Columbia, has incorporated a Nintendo Wii workout station into circuit training where users can punch, run and jump with the system’s movement-sensitive controller.

While some other gyms have combined stationary bikes with PlayStations and Xboxes in a bid to win younger clients, a spokesman for Nintendo Canada said this is the first they have heard of a gym using the Wii in its schedule.

Nathan Mellalieu, the owner of Studeo 55, said he decided to bring video games into a fitness environment after watching how much fun some children were having and, more importantly, seeing them sweating.

“We’re always trying to break down paradigms and keep things fresh. It’s used here to break up the monotony of traditional workouts,” he told Reuters.

He estimates that one session of Wii boxing, tennis or bowling equates to going for a brisk walk and can burn between 75 to 125 calories.

“All of our clients get great results, but the biggest result we see is the smile on their faces. People have to understand that fun is important,” said Mellalieu.

Improving fitness - Clients at the health club are encouraged to use the Wii as part of circuit training, warm-up or cool-down, with the system set up in a 400 square-foot theater room with a large projection screen.

“It’s pleasing to see people play video games who would have never played video games before,” Farjad Iravani, marketing manager for Nintendo Canada, told Reuters.

Since the Wii was released late last year, various studies have highlighted its ability to improve fitness and even lead to weight loss by getting armchair athletes moving.

A study conducted by researchers at the Liverpool John Moores University in England found that regular use of the console could burn up to 1,830 calories a per week — the equivalent of almost four Big Macs.

Nintendo is also currently developing Wii Fit, a 2008 video game with an array of activities, from yoga to aerobics.

Kim Bey, a former Olympic swimmer, was among the first to take a shot at the virtual workout at Studeo 55 when it was first introduced two weeks ago, adding it was an easy learn.

“You get what you put into it and you can make it a pretty difficult workout for yourself. I broke a sweat in the boxing for sure and as far as incorporating it into your workout, it’s like taking a slight break and yet still working out,” Bey said in a telephone interview.

Fit Tip of the Day

Set a target weight for a specific occasion (ex: a friend's wedding or a family reunion). Pick something that will really keep you motivated.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Practice this daily exercise - Every morning, look in the mirror, and say to yourself, "I am happy. I am confident. I am beautiful."

Temping Sucks!

I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!

I don't have time to blog!!!!
I don't have time to eat!
I don't have time to work out!
I don't even have time to sit and think about being fat or not being skinny!

I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!

Ok, I'm done.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Exercise. Looking great means feeling good about yourself and staying healthy.

Clockwatcher

Did you ever see that movie Clockwatchers w/Parker Posey, Toni Collette and Lisa Kudrow? Its about a group of temps that just get mistreated and dogged out at the company they are temping for. They are blamed for everything and just treated like crap.

Most of the time my temp experiences have been decent. People just say "oh you're the temp" then ignore you. I dread temping but its a good way to make decent money when you're "in between jobs" like I am.

This week I'm working for a company in West L.A. Its not so bad. I'm working on a real estate project which is kinda cool and I work alone most of the time. The good thing about this is that I'm not sitting at home all day thinking about what to eat next. The bad thing is that I'm not a morning person and I have never been one who is able to workout in the morning before going to work and when get off exercise is the last thing on my mind.

Needless to say I haven't worked out all week. And I feel really guilty about it. I'm slowly watching my goal of losing 30lbs by my bday slip thru my fingers.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Use a gentle soap like Dove for acne prone skin. It makes your skin a lot less oily because its PH balanced.

New Physical Exercise Guidelines

Adults should engage in moderately intense exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week or vigorous exercise at least 20 minutes three days each week, experts recommended on Wednesday.

Two leading health groups issued new guidelines on physical activity, updating influential recommendations issued in 1995 while also crafting advice tailored specifically for those 65 and older.

The guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend weight lifting and vigorous aerobic exercise while also being more specific on how many days a week people should work out.

The advice comes amid rising health problems stemming from sedentary lifestyles and obesity among Americans, as well as people in many other nations.

"I think physical inactivity is the biggest public health problem we face. I think it actually accounts for more morbidity and mortality than anything except maybe cigarette smoking," said Steven Blair of the University of South Carolina, one of the experts who crafted the recommendations.

The 1995 recommendations, issued by the American College of Sports Medicine with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had stated, "Every U.S. adult should accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week."

The new guidelines call for healthy adults to engage in moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity for at least 30 minutes five days each week, or vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 20 minutes three days a week. The guidelines also state that exercise above the recommended minimum amounts provides even greater health benefits.

Moderate-intensity aerobic activity can be a brisk walk, light jogging or other exercise that noticeably accelerates the heart rate. Vigorous-intensity exercise like jogging causes rapid breathing and a substantial increase in heart rate.

The guidelines called for weightlifting exercise to work on muscular strength and endurance, with eight to 10 different exercises on two nonconsecutive days a week.

The new guidelines offered specific advice for people 65 and older, urging them to consider lifting weights, improving their strength to prevent falls, and working on flexibility exercises and balance training.

"If you want to stay out of the nursing home, probably the best approach is to be sure you're physically active and fit," Blair said.

Ailments linked to physical inactivity include cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, colon cancer and breast cancer.

Fit Tip of the Day

Being healthy is a million times more important than being thin. Check with your doctor for your proper weight range and work to get and stay within it.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Don't get too stressed over your looks. Remember that love for yourself is more important than anything else, because it's what moves you to achieve things.

Fit Tip of the Day

An Exercise You Can't Do Without: Squats! They strengthen all of the major muscles of the lower body, including the gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps and calves.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Remember: Clothes don't make you, they complement you.

Billy Blanks Boot Camp

So Friday's are usually "leg days" but w/o my brother there's no way I would honestly do 75 squats. So I decided to throw in my new Billy Blanks Boot Camp dvd. I'd tried to do this workout the other day. But once I saw how intense it was I decided to stick w/Hip Hop Abs.

But I've always been a fan of Billy Blanks' TAE BO and today I felt adventurous and decided to give it a shot. My bestest friend is visiting from St. Louis so we did it together. OMG that work out is crazy! I'm fully convinced I won't be able to walk tomorrow.

Billy Blanks is a little hyper and his fashion sense leaves a lot to be desired. But if you want a great workout in a short amount of time you can't pass up Billy's BootCamp..

Beauty Tip of the Day

Smile, and do it like you mean it. To smile genuinely, you have to be genuinely happy with yourself. Don't hide behind your smile all the time. If you are unhappy about something, express your opinion.

Rehab: Does a Body Good

Unless you live in a cave or are one of those strange people that don't own a TV, radio or computer, you know that Lindsay Dee Lohan was arrested yesterday for driving under the influence, being in possession of a controlled substance i.e. cocaine and some other stuff. But I don't wanna talk about that stuff. I wanna talk about her body. Even after a 6 week stint in rehab, which obviously didn't work, and an abuse of alcohol and narcotics, Lindsay Lohan looks pretty darn good!

We saw all those pictures of her working out and rollerblading on the beach. But I have to give it to her for a "Hollywood actress" she actually looks pretty normal as far as weight goes. She's not all skinny and gross. She doesn't have huge fake boobs. And no one else can rock a SCRAM anklet like LiLo!

The New Spice Girl: Scary Arms

So these pictures of Madonna are going around the net showing how really gross and scary her arms look these days.
Now I know I've only been doing weight training for a few months and I'm no yogi like Madge. But goodness gracious! I don't even think I have that scary forearm muscle. Body fat can be a good thing sometimes.

The Walking Game

So since I've been back in L.A. I've been trying to come up with workouts that keep me from getting bored. I've started walking in the evening. Bu that's boring too. Since I love listing to books on tape I've started listening when I walk. I've put about 10 books on my Zune (way better than an iPod). The cool thing is I get so into the book that I keep walking to get to the end of a track or to see what's going to happen next.

Right now I'm listening to Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic and Baby. These books are hillarious!

For a great place for downloads check out

Summer Listening. Audiobooks for your iPod. Download now on iTunes.

Beauty Tip of the Day

Rid yourself of any insecurities. If your shoulders are slouching and you have a scared look on your face you will look bad even in a Gucci & Manolo shoes.

Jim Neely Interstate Bar-B-Q & Restaurant

If you are ever in Memphis and you aren't watching your weight you've got to go to Jim Neely Interstate Bar-B-Q & Restaurant. OMG! This was almost the best bbq that I've ever had.


Obviously I wasn't on any kind of diet while I shoving those rib tips in my mouth.

Stone Mountain Pics

I finally got my pictures back from my trip to the top of Stone Mountain.

Can you tell that I was near death!

L.A. Update

Ok, its been a whole week since I've been back in the City of Angels. So far, I'm not winning this battle. Although I haven't completely gone off the deep end I've only worked out once. I've eaten out about 4 times and I can't count the sodas that I've had.

BUT I've committed to making this work. I worked out yesterday. I went to West LA and walked 1.25 miles. I was all ready to do a full 2 miles but my knee was KILLING me. I don't know what that was about. Afterward, I came home, did my weights and sit ups. As soon as I hit the publish button I'm going to do some Hip Hop Abs. You know I love Sean T!

So my new dilemma is what am I going to do....ok so its not new but I've really been thinking about what gym to join if any. Or should I do a boot camp thing or what? I'm not a fan of the BIG gym. I can't stand Bally's and I'm really not trying to pay $100/wk for a personal trainer.

There are just too many decisions to be made! Oh yeah...and I need a job!

Beauty Tip of the Day

Mind your style, from top to bottom. There are two things that can make or break your look: your hair and your shoes.

Keep Your Mind Young

Exercise may help keep your mind young. Studies with mice showed that mice that ran on a wheel daily had more newly formed neurons and memory enhancing connections in their brains than sedentary mice. Human studies on aging and exercise have found an association between physical activity and maintenance of cognitive ability in older people.

Dance Workouts

Switch it up! Take a cue from square dancing caller and do-si-do and switch partners when it comes to your body building workout routines.

Varying your routines and programs will make your workout routine more exciting and will keep you from reaching a plateau. Try these tips on how to spice up your workout:

• Vary your pumping iron workout plan and target different areas of your body on different days
• Sign up for some swing or salsa dancing lessons
• Try alternating your dance and dumbbell workout with stretching (such as yoga or Pilates)
• Mix in a little tai chi for grace and swimming for cardiorespiratory fitness

Who says workout routines have to be routine?

I wanna be Posh when I grow up

Ok, I know she's too skinny. I know she's British. I know its unrealistic. But I totally have a crush on Posh Spice! I watched "Victoria Beckham Coming to America" the other night. And I just adore her! I have a much better view of her now. Some times reality shows can kill a career, Paul Abdul, but I think this may help Posh.

I loved it when she told Perez Hilton that she can't be seen eating in public.

Ok, that was just my little side note for the day.

Fit Tip of the Day

Get a check-up. To stay fit in the long run, you should perform regular maintenance on your body, just as you would with a car.

Home Again

Well, I've been on the road for a few days. My brother and I left Atlanta on Tuesday and arrived in Los Angeles yesterday. Let me just say that it wasn't a bad experience. We stopped in Memphis, TN (Awesome!), Fort Smith, Arkansas, Amarillo, Texas, Albuquerque, NM and Laughlin, Nevada.

And of course, my brother the fitness buff made me work out (once) along the way. I will say that my eating was not the best. But its really hard to think about healthy eating when you're trapped in a car of 6 hours/day.

Now that I'm back in L.A. - living w/my parents. I'm going to have to put forth even more effort than I even imagined. There is candy in every room of this house! And even though today is Monday - a workout day, I honestly have NO desire. But I'm going to do it. I've come to far to go back to the way I was or to not see what the future holds.

Stay Tuned!

Fit Tip of the Day

Do Cardio. The overall best way to shed fat fast is to do cardio (30 min minimum) right when you wake up. Your body will search for energy to use, when it finds nothing in your stomach, it will go directly to your fat storage for energy and the fat will burn up so fast!

On Top of the World

Last Friday Casey and I decided to do the 1.3 mile hike up Stone Mountain. I was not prepared. It was hot. It was humid and it is literally 825 feet from the bottom of the mountain to the top. Notice I keep saying MOUNTAIN.

Last week I made it about half way. There was no way I was ever going to see the top of that thing. Casey, my cheerleader, decided that I could make it to the top and today was the day. And you know what? He was right! Trust me, it wasn't an easy trip. That hike is HARD and anyone that tells you that it isn't is a LIAR.

Stone Mountain is 1,683 feet above sea level. That's kinda high. The main attraction at this park is the Confederate Memorial Carving that depicts Confederate heroes of the Civil War, Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Its the largest High-Relief Sculpture in the World. The South really is a different kind of place.

Any way. It was a huge accomplishment. Each day I just keep pushing myself further and further. As Martha Stewart says, "its a good thing."

SiCKO

My brother and went to Michael Moore’s new movie SiCKO today. It just reminded me how living outside of the US might be worth looking into. But I don’t even know where to start. How do I move and leave my family, boyfriend (who will never move) and life as I know it? And where will I go? I’ve been thinking about Canada for a while. I don’t even how to find a job or a place to live. Sicko

See more progress on: Live in another country

Fit Tip of the Day

Avoid Empty Calories - junk food - won't fill you up & will waste your allotted calories.

BlackJack 21!

Well readers, today was the day that made all the sweat, tears and muscle aches worth it. Today was the day I officially lost

21 pounds!

My goal for this week was to hit the 20lb mark. I never thought I would actually exceed it! I had my brother come look at the scale to make sure I wasn't trippin. I know I've still got a long way to go but this is a huge milestone. A true accomplishment. And dare I say it, "I'm proud of myself."

49% of the credit goes to my little brother, my cheerleader, who has helped me acheive something that I've never, ever even been close to.

The scariest part for me is that I'm leaving Atlanta next week. I'm leaving my support system and going back to L.A. This is where the true challenge lies. To be at home, with my parents, my mother's constant grocery shopping and no one in my life who works out. That's going to be the real challenge.

For my next goal I really want to be under 200lbs by my birthday. That means losing what its taken me 7 months to lose in about 3 months. But I think that I've got a really good foundation now and I'm willing to give it a serious try!

21 down, 79 to go!

Fit Tip of the Day

In addition to a good aerobic exercise, you should add weight training in, which will help balance out the fitness routine and provide you with the best results. If you are not sure where to start, a professional trainer can help get you started on a healthy program.

Sports Drinks - the healthy way

Gatorade is thirst-aid! Many people prefer sports drinks to water because they taste better and it´s easier to drink them more often in a sports nutrition diet. If the sports drink contains a small amount of carbohydrate, sodium, and potassium, the drink will effectively hydrate the person.

The following facts are important to consider when using a sports drink for sports nutrition:

• Sports drinks should contain between 14 and 19 grams of carbohydrate per eight-ounce serving (six to eight percent). A drink with more than ten percent carbohydrate may cause slow absorption, nausea, cramps, or diarrhea. A drink with five percent or less sugar solution may not provide enough additional sports nutrition energy to increase exercise length.
• Carbonation causes stomach bloating. Dilute carbonated drinks to half-strength.
• The correct sodium level for sports nutrition supplement drinks is 100-110 milligrams per eight ounces. Sodium content in sports drinks can range from eight to 116 milligrams.
• Fruit juices have 10-15 percent carbohydrate and need to be diluted. Mix one part juice to seven parts water.
• You do not sweat out vitamins; there´s no need to buy sports nutrition drinks that include vitamins.
• Water is adequate for exercise under one hour. However, if the exercise is intense or lasts more than an hour, a sports drink will be beneficial.
• If you´re participating in a sports event lasting four hours or more, you need a sports nutrition drink that contains from 110 to 120 milligrams of sodium.

Glamour Muscles

Ah-nold knows that the glamour muscles for men--abs, pecs, and biceps--are all on the front of the upper body, and many men spend most of their strength training time on them. But the Governator didn't get a healthy physique by just focusing on glamour. Balance your weight training routine like Ah-nold balances the budget. For a nice, symmetrical look, as well as to prevent potential problems caused by postural imbalance, it´s necessary to train your back as well. And set aside some time to do strength training exercise for your legs, too.

The one thing that I have noticed is that although my upper body is shrinking my hips and thighs are disappearing as quickly. I've found that The FIRM. Sculpts your entire body. Usually the women in excercise dvd's really get on my nerves. They're too perky and just so annoying. But the women in The FIRM series are actually quite bearable.

Women´s Muscles

Strong women really do stay young...with strength training. Women build up their muscles in response to weight training, but it is usually seen in the form of firmness and muscle definition. Very few women can build huge, bulging muscles through a weight training routine, even if they want to. They don´t have the right hormones. But they'll increase their health and fitness levels, and look younger!

Fit Tip of the Day

If you have bathroom scales, you should either get rid of them or put them away for a while. Weight does not accurately reflect the level of your fitness. If you should be measuring anything, it should be body fat, not the weight.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey's Diet - Pucture Perfect or Irresponsible?

The British Dietetic Association says celebrities are being irresponsible by endorsing fad diets that could be harmful.

The BDA's Amanda Wynne says, "We are concerned about these diets, and the way in which celebrities advocate them is irresponsible."

But are all celebrities' diet really so harmful and irresponsible? Let's take Mariah Carey - a singer whose remarkable voice helped her dance tunes reach the top of the pop charts and whose remarkable weight loss story made headlines recently. She lost weight rather fast (according to the plan, in 11 days) on new Dr. Shapiro plan "The Picture Perfect Prescription".

Dr. Shapiro said, "We helped get Mariah Carey started with the weight loss she has achieved - she lost about 10 pounds during the time we worked together." So what is this plan about?

Here are the four principles of the program:

1. Stress control

2. Exercise

3. Eating nutritious food that tastes good

4. Reaching out, maintaining optimism

"A perfectly tuned body will take you only so far. After that, researchers have discovered, the quality of your relationships with other people - in your personal, social and spiritual life," wrote Dr. Shapiro in his book. In fact, there's nothing in the plan that any doctor, psychologist, or fitness professional could call "irresponsible". This approach can help any dieter to improve health and life style, not only lose weight.

Sleeping Issues

Man! I am having some sleeping issues! I sleep just fine. I'm actually sleeping through the night which has always been an problem for me. But now, my back is killing me! I have this soreness between my shoulder blades. It been like this for the last week or so. I've also noticed that when I wake up I'm spread eagle on my back, hands above my head.

What the heck!

Muscle Soreness

Airline delays, telephone delays on hold, and now muscle delays. What's an athlete to do? Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is when you´ve worked, or worked out, hard and don´t really feel it until the next day.

In weight training, it happens when you try a new strength training exercise or one you haven´t done for a while, or go up in weights too quickly. Avoid it by starting extra light with a new strength training exercise. If you´re a beginner suffering from DOMS, it´s best to skip a couple days in your weight training program and wait until it clears up before working out. If you´re experienced and feel you can handle it, you can do a very light workout.

The good news is, the next time you do the strength training exercise it won´t hurt nearly as much the next day, unless you´ve let 2 months go by between weight training workouts.

Yoga is a great way to ease that muscle soreness. I do weights and cardio Mon-Wed-Fri and I try to do yoga on Tues-Thurs-Sundays. It really has helped to cut down on the tightness and soreness I feel after strength training. If you're new to yoga check out this Yoga for Beginners Kit to help you get started.

Changing Routines

Getting bored? Not overtraining but thinking of giving your weight training program a rest? Make changes in your weight training routine every 6-8 weeks to keep from getting stale and reaching a strength training plateau.

Calorie Burning

If you see that a given aerobic exercise burns a certain amount of calories, e.g., running a mile burns 100 calories, be aware that the number is usually based on a 70 kg (154 lb) man. If you weigh more than that you will burn more calories for the same aerobic activity, and if you are lighter you will burn fewer calories.

Summer Berry Shortcakes With Tangy Lemon Cream

INGREDIENTS

Berries

1 lb fresh strawberries, cored and halved2 containers (5.6 oz each) fresh blackberries2 containers (4.4 oz each) fresh blueberries1 container (6 oz) fresh raspberries1/3 cup sugar2 tbsp chopped fresh mint2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Lemon cream

1 cup fat-free sour cream3 tbsp sugar2 tsp grated lemon zest

Shortcakes

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

5 oz unsalted butter, cut into very small pieces and chilled

1 cup plus 2 tbsp lowfat buttermilk

PREPARATIONS

For berries:

Combine berries in a bowl.

Add sugar, mint and lemon juice; toss well and chill, tossing occasionally, 4 hours or overnight.

For lemon cream:

Combine sour cream, sugar and lemon zest in a bowl; mix well.

Chill at least 1 hour.

For shortcakes:

Heat oven to 400°.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or coat with cooking spray. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg in a bowl until well blended. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut butter pieces into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. With a rubber spatula, stir in 1 cup plus 1 tbsp buttermilk until just moistened and dough begins to form (it will be sticky at this point). With lightly floured hands, gently knead dough 3 or 4 times until it holds together. On a lightly floured surface, gently roll dough with a rolling pin into an 8 1/2-inch circle about 1/2 inch thick. With a floured 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter, cut out 8 circles from dough and transfer to baking sheet. Discard dough scraps. Brush top of each shortcake with remaining 1 tbsp buttermilk. Bake until shortcakes rise and turn lightly golden, 16 to 18 minutes.To serve:Cut each shortcake in half crosswise. Place the bottom on a plate and top with 3/4 cup berry mixture and 2 tbsp lemon cream. Cover with top half of shortcake.

Serve immediately. Makes 8 servings

Strength Training and Resistance Bands

Get on the resistance bandwagon! Resistance bands are easier and more flexible than barbells, dumbbells or even hand weights. Your weight training routine will benefit from adding at least one strength training exercise that uses a resistance band.

Try doing squats while pulling on the resistance band wrapped around a doorknob (this weight training exercise strengthens the butt, thighs, back, chest, triceps and biceps).

Be careful in your resistance band strength training to:

• Secure the band around objects, otherwise the ends can come loose and possibly cause an injury

• Before and during every session of your weight training program, make sure your hands aren't damp, sweaty or slippery

If you're accident prone, look into buying a resistance band with safety features (the B-Lines Resistance Bands Upgrade Kit includes a door attachment with safety strap, so you can attach your band to a doorjamb or even a tree and pull, pull, pull without fear).

Gaim has a great Pilates for Beginners Kit that has a natural latex Heavy Band for resistance, a durable foam Seat Riser with two cushions to support belly and neck and Pilates B.E.A.M. Fundamentals VHS Tape.

Fit Tip of the Day

Buy a nice wardrobe that will fit you in two months if you stick to your fitness plan.

Killer!

Today's workout was brutal! Wednesday is triceps and back day. Although I must say that I don't mind them too much. I think Monday is the worst - chest and biceps. Friday is legs that sucks too.

So Casey says that my body is conditioned. I'm in shape. Now I've just got to push myself harder. Do more reps. Go to the point of fatigue.

This all sucks! I'm tired! I just wanna be thin already!

Low Carb Diets. Is This Right For You?

Many Celebrities Choose Low Carb Diets. Is This Right For You?

Many if not most of the stars limit pasta, bread and refined carbohydrates to quickly shape up for movies: Ben Affleck was known to stick with his low carb foods while losing weight for his role in Pearl Harbor. Many musicians and pop stars also enjoy low carb diets that help them to prepare for concerts and tours and maintain energy levels while slimming down.

If you decide to choose this way of eating, you'll join the Friends' star Jennifer Aniston, Ellen DeGeneres, Natalie Maines, Bill Clinton, George Michael, Ben Affleck, and Renee Zellweger who keep their plates packed with "good" fats and lean protein while cutting down on "bad" carbohydrates and "bad" animal fat. Simpson has said she likes the lifestyle approach of the South Beach, while Jennifer Aniston prefers the 40:30:30 ratio of the Zone Diet. But how do you know if this celebrity's choice is right for you?

Here's a tip. A low-carb plan is your ideal "celebrity diet" if you don't mind:

1. living on meat, fish, eggs, and cheese

2. cutting back on white bread, potato, rice, pasta, and pizza

3. snacking mostly on nuts

Inexpensive Protein

Your sports nutrition diet doesn't have to break the bank. If you want to add extra protein to your sports nutrition diet, an inexpensive source is soy. Soy is not just tofu - which I think is kinda gross. I actually don't eat a lot of meat so I get most of my protein from soy. I use a soy proteing powder which I add to my smoothies. Of course, a good quality commercial protein powder is the best choice if you want really good control over your dietary choices.

You can get soy proteing powder at Whole Foods or any health food store. If you don't think you'll like the powder, DrSoy has great tasting snacks like protein bars, soy nuts and trail mix.

Penelope Cruz

Sleeping Beauty: Penelope Cruz's Secrets of Staying Naturally Thin

Penelope Cruz Doesn't seem to have body weight problems but she decided to start a healthier life style so she quit smocking, started exercising, meditating, and paying more attention to sleep quality.

Penelope claims that sleeping 12 hours a day helps her to remain naturally thin. Can it be true?

The Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that getting enough sleep may help reduce weight gain while sleep deprivation alters important hormone levels resulting in increased appetite. The journal published results of clinical study showing that during sleep restriction, there was an 18% decrease in the appetite-reducing hormone leptin, 24% increase in hunger, and 23% increase in appetite."This is a new and very exciting area of research which raises the possibility that lack of sleep may be an unrecognized and potentially modifiable risk factor for obesity," explained Jean-Philippe Chaput of Laval University in Quebec, Canada.

Sleep seems to be as important as nutrition and exercise in a healthy diet plan. Americans sleep an average of 6 hours instead of recommended 8 hours minimal. Poor sleep can be seen as a symptom of a stressful lifestyle, which adds to the obesity risk as well.

Celebrities on Diet Pills: the Price For Quick Fix

Nicole Richie's health condition, which reportedly is in the realm of anorexia, was caused by diet pills. She is on Hoodia - an herb that dramatically reduces appetite. Researchers at Brown University in Rhode Island showed that the chemicals in Hoodia stimulate nerve cells in the brain area controlling blood sugar levels and appetite.

Britney Spears is on Zantrex-3 - a new diet supplement based on caffeine and herbal stimulants: yerba mate, guarana, damiana, schizonepeta, green tea, peper nigum, teibetan ginseng, panax ginseng, maca root, cocoa nut, kola nut, and thea sinensis complex.

Anna Nicole Smith is on Trimspa. Trimspa was reformulated into an ephedra-free version after ephedra was banned in the United States but it is still a potent stimulant anyway. Anna Nicole reportedly lost a total of 69 pound taking 6 pills a day plus a laxative. Though she did change her diet, she thinks that the main effect has been caused by diet pills.

There's no doubts that diet pills work. However, at what price? Beyond appetite decrease, diet pills they have plenty of effects on the body and mind - jumpiness, anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, inability of concentrate - all due to their rather nondiscriminatory action on the brain.