Molly Ringwald Goes Green to Lose Weight

You've just  GOT  to watch the John Hughes tribute video!

BY FITSUGAR

I've come to accept that I will always get a little choked up during the Oscars.. This year it happened during the touching tribute to John Hughes — director of one of my all-time favorites,The Breakfast Club. It was especially great to see actress Molly Ringwald take the stage to honor her mentor. Like me, most of you thought Molly looked stunning in her purple Todd Thomas gown. Looking at her on stage, it was hard to believe that she gave birth to twins just eight months ago! The actress shared with People magazine that the key to slimming down for her was to keep everything in moderation.

To find out how Molly lost the weight, read more.

The Impact of Music on Exercise

The thing I liked the very best about my Get in Shape Girl “workouts” was the awesome music on the cassette I blasted through the house!  This article confirms what I suspected all along…music enhances and improves your workout!  

Crank Up the Tunes: The Impact of Music on Exercise

by Jane Harrison, R.D

Have you ever used music to "psych" yourself up during a workout? Anyone who has ever gone on a long run with their headphones or taken an energetic spinning class knows that music can make the time pass more quickly.

Now, there is some science behind the effects of music on exercise. New research shows what many music/exercise enthusiasts have known for years: listening to upbeat music during exercise can increase the intensity and speed of your workout.

But why? Several factors seem to contribute to music's motivational qualities:

Mood enhancer. Music can lift your spirits, creating a more positive attitude and encouraging that "get up and go" feeling.

·             Music can be a distraction. Listening to upbeat, positive tunes may cancel out any tiredness you feel toward the end of your workout.

·             This can help you push through some of the more uncomfortable feelings by blocking out the little voice in your brain telling you it's time to quit.

Synchronization. Matching your pace and time with that of the music's tempo is known as synchronization. It tends to happen automatically when you choose certain music that matches your stride or even heartbeat rhythm.

Gym Etiquette 101

Let’s face it, with the cold weather upon us getting our butts to the gym can be a daunting task. Once we finally show up, being exposed to rude gym behavior can be a huge de-motivator. So in the spirit of making the experience as pleasurable as possible, Christine complied a list of her favorite gym-etiquette tips. Observe and spread good workout karma!.

By Christine Angelacos

Get Naked Responsibly.

If you’re comfortable being free with your nude self more power to you, but not everyone else may be so at ease. Respect the comfort level of others and cover with a towel after showering/ putting on your makeup/drying your hair/lounging in the steam room. You get the drift. Just be aware of your nude time. Don’t forget to wear flip-flops to preserve your, and others, feet from spreading dreaded locker room fungi.

5 “bad” foods you should be eating

by By Nicci Micco Feb 22, 2010

 

Recently, a friend who was eating with me appeared shocked as I spread full-fat natural peanut butter on my whole-wheat toast. Isn’t peanut butter super-fattening, she asked? It’s high in fatbut that doesn’t mean it’s fattening, I told her, noting that gaining or losing weight, and body fat, basically comes down to balancing calories. Knowing my master’s work focused on weight loss, she took my word on this. (Find easy, quick and delicious 500-Calorie Dinners to help you lose.)

That said, peanut butter is a concentrated source of calories, so you don’t want to go overboard. But you don’t need to eat tons of the stuff to feel satisfied: just a tablespoon (90 calories) or two of peanut butter goes a long way. I eat peanut butter nearly every day because it tastes so good and it’s really nutritious. Peanut butter provides protein and folate, a B vitamin important for the healthy development of new cells.

Alcohol and Calories: Does Drinking Cause Weight Gain?

by Elle, on Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:59pm PST

New research suggests that drinking may pack on the pounds even more than you thought

Alcohol and Calories

So I was driving along in my car, listening to National Public Radio, shaking my head at the reports on Afghanistan and the economy, when suddenly I was assaulted with the worst news ever: “Having a mere three ounces of alcohol,” intoned a diet book author being interviewed, “reduces fat-burning by about a third.” Now, if there are two things I love in life, it’s drinking wine and burning fat. Hearing they were in opposition was like when I heard Jon and Kate were splitting up: How could you choose between the two when they’re both so delightful? The author continued, “If you’re trying to lose weight, you probably need to stop drinking alcohol. You booze, you don’t lose.”

The Skinny on Rapid Weight Loss

Experts reveal the scary consequences of yo-yo dieting

By Jerry Brunner | May 19, 2009

·   For his role in The Machinist, Christian Bale lost nearly 65 pounds, maintaining his frail frame by eating only 275 calories a day over the course of four months (the suggested daily caloric intake for men is between 1,500 and 2,000). The 121-pound actor then bulked up to 190 in just five months so that he’d be in appropriate superhero form for filming Batman Begins (Bale eventually gained an additional 30 pounds as the Dark Knight). “It was like a massive shock to my body because of what I was trying to get it to do,” said Bale in an interview with the BBC. “My metabolism had to get back up to speed, because my heart had gotten used to a whole different way of living.” On the flipside, actress Renée Zellweger gained excessive pounds for the popular Bridget Jones’s Diary, going from a size 4 to a size 14. The physical and mental strain of eating 4,000 calories a day then dropping the weight postproduction was enough to make the actress question signing on for theBridget Jonessequel.

The bottom line? Don’t try this at home. “When celebrities lose loads of weight, they often have a team of professionals—doctors, nutritionists, and trainers,” says Christine Avanti, nutritionist and author ofSkinny Chicks Don't Eat Salads, who worked with Jeremy Piven to healthily drop 20 pounds for his character in Smokin’ Aces. “But no matter who you are, this extreme dieting can be very harmful. People who go on and off low-carb diets get puffy and bloated easily because their body will not break down carbohydrates as efficiently as someone who eats carbohydrates more often.”

Beauty Tip: Cellulite Busters

Help! Bikini season is almost here, and my thighs have unsightly dimples

By Emily Herbert 

Being bootylicious is nothing to be ashamed of (just look at Beyoncé’s hot bod!), but in today’s image-conscious society it’s no wonder that even the slightest dimple triggers a near meltdown. Though women may be the fairer sex, men get a fairer deal in this area: Men’s connective tissue effectively holds fat together under the skin, whereas women tend to have a shortage of this connective tissue, which causes excess fat to bulge out toward the skin’s surface in the form of cellulite. Women also tend to have a thinner outer layer, making each bump easier to see.

Before you begin envying your boyfriend’s cellulite-free legs, however, lighten up—because there are ways to fight back against those pesky fat pockets before resorting to doctor-prescribed laser treatments and fat-blasting devices. The first thing you can do to reduce cellulite and its unsightly appearance is to tweak your diet accordingly. Limit your salt intake—salt absorbs water and too much of it can result in your body retaining the water it consumes. Next, try supplementing meals with more protein and fiber, as these help to firm-up the muscles

How to Stay Young

How to Stay Young

by George Carlin 

We Really Miss You George!

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him. 

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. 

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. “An idle mind is the devil's workshop."  And the devil's name is Alzheimer's. 

4. Enjoy the simple things. 5. Laugh often, long and loud.  Laugh until you gasp for breath. 

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. 

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is. 

10. Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity. 

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: 

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Starting a Fitness Routine

Starting a Fitness Routine
Go from fat to fit in 2010 and turn back the clock.

By Kevin Steinmuller

Getting Started: One Step at a Time

More than likely your journey from fit to fat took a decade of bad food choices and physical negligence, so prepare for the long haul in an effort to turn back the clock. Being truly healthy is a combination of proper diet, exercise, and lifestyle management. While everyone gets very excited about getting back in shape, you have to temper your enthusiasm with discipline and a commitment to gradual change. Taking the proper steps will put you on the right path to fitness. Remember, it took a long time to let your body go, it takes just as long to get it back.

Step 1: Nutrition

In an effort to lose weight, improve body composition, or just increase your energy, you must monitor your diet. The foods and drinks you consume are fuel to help your body build muscle and perform more

optimally. Whether your diet is 100 percent organic or you live on fast food and diet soda, consider the following to clean up your diet.

• Do not drink your calories. Water is the base of a healthy body, drink lots of it—it will flush your system and keep you hydrated. Try to avoid diet sodas, fruit juices, sports drinks or
  
  
  

My Hero!

Sharon A. Barbano, M.Ed.

Sharon Barbano, Vice President of Public Relations, Events and Athletes for Saucony, Inc., has been a key player in sports and fitness marketing for over two decades. A recognized industry leader, Barbano has appeared worldwide on television, radio and in print as a consumer marketing expert, brand spokesperson and sports commentator.

Barbano is a nationally recognized fitness expert and developer of a wide variety of sports and fitness training programs followed by millions. She is the creator of Hasbro Toys' "Get In Shape, Girl!" fitness gear, tapes and programs for children.