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Link Time - Will Anna Kournikova Be a Trainer on Biggest Loser?

PopSugar — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:03:02 PDT

Will Anna Kournikova replace Jillian Michaels on The Biggest Loser? - Us Weekly
All the exciting Summer movies to look forward to! - Rotten Tomatoes
John Stamos lines up a Summer role - Huffington Post
See Lauren Alaina's amazing Idol transformation - TooFab
Jon Hamm is one happy man - Lainey Gossip
Lindsay Lohan loses her bikini top in the ocean - D-Listed
Armie Hammer shares about kissing Leonardo DiCaprio on the big screen - JustJared
Kevin Federline seems to be putting on his own pregnancy weight - PopEater
Lady Gaga really pushes the envelope with her latest sexy outfit - Hollywood Tuna
Watch a funny unaired SNL skit from Justin Timberlake - Pink Is the New Blog
Looks like Maria Shriver wanted the public to know about Arnold's secret child - The Superficial
Mischa Barton bugs out in London - Hollywood Rag
There were a lot of hot backsides at Cannes - cityrag

5 Shows to Get You Up and Moving

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:50:58 PDT

It's easy being a couch potato. What's not always easy is finding the motivation to get off that couch and trot off to the gym for an intense workout. There are, however, some television shows that will light a fire under your tired tush. Come see which programs will put you in a workout frame of mind.

Source: Thinkstock

Alison Sweeney's Tips For Staying Healthy

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:50:27 PST

Actress Alison Sweeney is one busy lady. Between her multiple TV gigs and having two little ones on her hands, life can be pretty hectic. In the latest issue of Shape, the Days of Our Lives star and host of The Biggest Loser says that she manages the craziness by "taking it one day at a time." Along the way, Alison has picked up a few tricks for staying healthy even when life is always on the go.

Keep veggies within reach. Alison makes sure she always has healthy food within an arm's reach. "If you clean them, cut them up, and put them in a bowl, they'll get eaten."
Opt for complex carbs. Alison reaches for complex carbs like whole grains because they keep the body satisfied. "They hold you over far longer than refined carbs, like bagels. That's why I start the day with a bowl of oatmeal."

To see more of Alison's tips,

Biggest Loser Winner Is Back Where He Started

FitSugar — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:00:38 PST

It was inspiring to watch Erik Chopin's journey on season three of The Biggest Loser. The deli owner from West Islip, NY, weighed into the show at 407 lbs. - 214 lost pounds later, Chopin was named the winner of that season back in 2006. Three years later, Chopin confessed on Oprah that he gained almost all of the weight back. Today he weighs 368 lbs.

Chopin addresses his struggle with weight in a special documentary, Confessions of a Reality Star Loser on the Discovery Health channel. In an interview, Chopin says that the weight came back because he lost his sense of drive and felt a "lack of purpose." Now just 30 lbs. shy of his starting weight on The Biggest Loser, Chopin is more determined than ever to lose the weight and keep it off. One of his plans to lose the weight again is by doing things that get him excited, like boxing.

I personally always wonder what happens to participants of makeover shows like The Biggest Loser. Are you surprised Chopin gained the weight back?

The one-hour documentary airs today (1 p.m.) and tonight (6 p.m.) on the Discovery Health channel. Will you be watching?

The Biggest Loser Season 9 Premiere Is Tonight

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:00:36 PST

The Biggest Loser is still going strong, and season nine opens tonight on NBC with the show's third couples edition. Last season was full of the sweat and tears we've come to expect, but what surprised us all was seeing 430-pound Danny Cahill drop down to a slim 191 pounds, losing a record-setting 239 pounds in six months!

This new season launches today on NBC to give more people the opportunity to get healthy and change their lives forever, and to inspire others watching to get on the path to losing weight. Check out the season premiere below.

Will you be watching The Biggest Loser this season?

Catching Up With Biggest Loser Tara Costa

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:47:08 PST

Even though she is no longer required to pull big numbers at the weekly Biggest Loser weigh-ins, Tara Costa is still working it. She told Life and Style that she's "still battling the last 10 pounds."

Tara currently weighs 164 pounds (down from 294 at the start of the show), but the second runner-up of from last year's season says she'd "love to live at 155-ish." Her plan of attack is twofold. She's headed for a week-long stay at the Biggest Loser Resort and Spa, located in Ivins, UT, where guests can reenact the rigors of the weight-loss reality show: six hours of daily exercise and a healthy diet. Her second method is running. Tara ran in the New York City Marathon last Sunday, completing the 26.2-mile course in 4 hours, 23 minutes, and 12 seconds.

I love keeping up with past contestants from the show and seeing that they are still living healthy lives. Like Tara, are you battling the last few pesky pounds that refuse to go away? Join the Weight Loss Support group, to meet like-minded people who share your goals.

Photos courtesy of NBC and Getty

How Bob Harper Almost Made Alison Sweeney Cry

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:30:36 PDT

If you've ever wondered what it might be like to train with The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper, check out this clip of Alison Sweeney's appearance on the Bonnie Hunt Show. Sweeney, host of The Biggest Loser and soap opera actress, says Harper pushed her farther than she's ever gone before - almost to the point of tears!

Do you push yourself when working out? When's the last time you've done sprints in your cardio routine?

Just Released: Three Fitness Video Games For the Wii

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:00:47 PDT

Confession: I love playing video games - I especially love them on the Wii because I get to move, jump, and shake myself into a tizzy. Three fitness games were released for the Wii this last week and even though it's not like doing the real deal outside, the games are a fun way to burn calories and whip your bod into shape.

Nintendo Wii Fit Plus ($20) Wii Fit Plus is Nintendo's follow-up to the popular Wii Fit. There are new exercises, balance board games, and strength and yoga activities, as well as targeted exercise routines for things like reducing tummy fat and toning your figure. A great improvement is the addition of a calorie counter - after you complete each exercise the game tells you how many calories you've burned.

To hear about the other two games, continue reading.

Yoga With Biggest Loser Trainer Bob Harper

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:47:23 PDT

I gaze out past the middle finger of my left hand into the Hollywood Hills as my right quad quivers holding Warrior 2. This is when Bob Harper, trainer from The Biggest Loser, says, "You might be feeling a bit of heat in your thigh right about now." He's teaching a yoga class to a few bloggers and ladies of the press, and we all laugh as our legs burn.

You can hear Bob's charming smile even in his calm instructions leading us from pose to pose. He's a thoughtful teacher, with smart sensitive hands that gently mold you into correct positions. I've had a bit of a TV crush on him for years, and now after meeting him in person, I'm smitten. This yoga class and round table discussion were produced by Go With the Grain, and although carbs did come up (as well as protein, which Bob thinks is overrated), we mostly talked about the show, yoga, and a dash of musical theater. He mentioned the contestant Shay more than a few times; she was clearly on his mind. Having lived through each moment during filming, Bob doesn't watch the show but checks the ratings the following morning. He's also learned to avoid the online community boards: "They're so mean." He addresses the recent criticism about all the screaming on the show and shakes his head in dismay and bemusement about the clip of a tirade used on the Emmys.

Bob said there is so much of the action at the ranch that ends on the cutting room floor because it doesn't make for good TV. Which brings us to yoga. Quiet, slow yoga. He actually does a fair bit with his contestants because it's meditative. "It helps them own their bodies," he explains. Working with people that weigh over 300 pounds, Bob gets creative with props, using benches to help support Shay in Chaturanga. Ten minutes of sun salutations is often part of the exercise homework he gives his team.

To see if Bob and Jillian, his rival trainer on the show, are buddies, just

read more. Bob still teaches a Saturday spin class at a Crunch in LA and has participated in the SF to LA AIDS ride, so I asked him if he rides a road bike much. "I spin four to five days a week and get my cycle time there. Mostly, I like to ride my motorcycle." Who taught him to ride? Jillian. They hang out all the time. Cute. As a personal trainer, we know Bob is into fitness, but food is a major part of the health picture. Growing up on a cattle farm, with "two coffin freezers full of meat," Bob is not into animal protein and believes in a plant-based diet. He feels too much emphasis has been placed on protein. He really wants people to focus on fruits and veggies, and of course grains. On the show, he tell contestants that life on the ranch is the little picture. It's extreme. Going forward with their lives after The Biggest Loser they're going to need to find balance. Which is what we all need, especially when doing the standing splits to end a series of standing poses he taught in his class. Obviously, I am big fan of Bob's - are you? How was your last yoga class? Ever taken one with a celebrity yogi? Share the details in my Yoga Stretch and Tell group.

DVD Review: Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:31 PDT

I know that many of you share my admiration for Jillian Michaels of Biggest Loser fame, with her no-nonsense approach to exercising and her ability to get the contestants up and moving. So I was excited to check out her workout DVD, Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred ($11).

As the title implies, the workout promises visible results in a month, if you do it every day for 30 days. (“Up to 20 lbs. in 30 days!”) Though that may seem like a big undertaking, the commitment is small - just about 25 minutes a day. Between the short workout sessions and Michaels’s motivation, I was feeling amped that I had a winning DVD on my hands.

To hear more about the 30 Day Shred,