After watching all the contestants sweat and cry almost every week this Fall on The Biggest Loser Families, we finally got to meet the biggest loser. The live finale show began with an exciting reveal, the host Alison Sweeny is pregnant, something my husband and I began wondering in the last couple of episodes. She was glowing, as were all the contestants.
The contestants all looked skinny (a few maybe too skinny) and fashionable. The first big "reveal" of the night was that America voted Heba out of the final three, even with Ed's pleas to keep his wife active in the contest. He's a likable dude and his entrance was definitely the most rock-n-roll — two thumbs up punch through the image of him from the show's first episode. Ed's got some style.
I am very proud of Jerry, the sickest contestant to ever join the game. He lost 30 percent of his weight and looked so alive. Amy P. beat her husband Phillip by a pound, but unfortunately lost the at-home prize to Heba. Heba won $100,000 for all her at-home hard work.
To see who won the title of the biggest loser as well as before and after shots off all the contestants, read more
We were inspired by many fit celebrities this year, but Jessica Biel received the majority of your votes for the fittest female celebrity of 2008. It's the second consecutive year that Jessica's fit lifestyle won her the title, and the poll results showed the only close competition was Madonna. Many of you mentioned you like the young star because she's muscular but feminine, and it seems Adam Sandler didn't have to stretch the truth when reciting his line in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry when he told Biel's character, "That may be the most perfect body I've ever seen."
There's no question Jessica works hard to achieve a high level of fitness. Between running bleachers with her man Justin Timberlake and strolling with their dogs, Jessica has a couple of built-in fitness buddies and the weather in LA allows them to enjoy exercising outdoors. Will this fit celebrity win the title three years in a row? Only time will tell if someone else will top her in 2009, but something tells me that Jessica's fitness priorities aren't budging anytime soon.
Apparently, FDA approval can wait. This week, the Coca-Cola company will begin selling a diet drink sweetened with the somewhat controversial herbal supplement stevia. For three diet flavors of its Odwalla juices, Coke will use the Truvia brand of sweetener, which it developed in partnership with Cargill earlier this year.
Unlike most of the products derived from the stevia herb, Truvia isn't labeled as a "dietary supplement," but it has yet to be approved by the FDA. Coke is moving forward with Truvia-sweetened products anyway, though PepsiCo is still holding off. For the details, read more
So you say you're going to get fit in 2009, eh? Why not put your resolution in motion by running to ring in the New Year? Yep, you can celebrate in the New Year by participating in a fun run or race.
If you're going to be in the NYC area to celebrate the New Year, then you may want to skip the crowds in Times Square and join the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in Central Park. This four-mile fun run features a costume parade, dancing, and fireworks. It really is more of a party than a race, so you'll burn tons of calories while ringing in 2009.
If you don't live in the big apple, there are plenty of races and fun runs to be found. Active.com has a listing that includes 137 New Year's runs around the nation. You can run in Alaska or Georgia, in Idaho or Tennessee. Some races are on New Year's Eve and some on New Year's Day, with a few races on the Sunday following all the festivities. I would sign up ahead of time to really solidify your intentions.
DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.
Dear DrSugar,
It seems like everything that I eat causes gas. I exercise regularly and I try to eat healthy as much as possible. I don't know if I should be eliminating some things from my diet to alleviate the gas. My gas is in the form of belching though. I rarely have gas that is expelled from my bowel area. Can you me help? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.
— Sick of Saying "Excuse Me"
To see what DrSugar suggests to help this problem, read more
There's no way to predict the future, but groups dedicated to health and fitness are determined to get a peek into the New Year. Their research suggests various forms of exercise will be hot in 2009, and while the American College of Sports Medicine surveyed sports medicine professionals to come up with its health and fitness trend predictions, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) surveyed personal trainers, group fitness professionals, and lifestyle and weight management consultants to generate its trendy list.
ACE Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant, PhD, summarized, "The overarching theme for fitness in 2009 is getting more bang for the buck." Boot-camp-style programs are predicted to be the number one fitness trend for the New Year. Most boot camps I've come across aren't exactly inexpensive, but their emphasis on a total body workout may allow you to save on monthly gym membership dues. On the opposite end of the workout spectrum are the technology-meets-fitness hybrids using iPods and video games to keep people engaged while working out. It seems the Wii phenomenon just keeps growing.
Living your healthy lifestyle is tough enough on your own. So if you meet someone who shares your passion for exercise and eating right, it'll be easier to stay on track. Where can you meet a like-minded health nut? Here are some ideas.
Lipsy
J by Jasper Conran
Marciano