FitSugar

Your Desire For French Fries Could Be in Your Genes

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:06:55 PST

Some people (OK, a lot of people) are drawn to fattening foods. They can't resist brownie sundaes, buttery scones, and french fries. Now it seems a lack of willpower may not be the only culprit: New research shows it could be because of your genes.

A specific gene, named FTO, isn't necessarily a gene that causes obesity. But it does give those who have the gene a stronger tendency to eat richer, fattening foods, which in turn can make them overeat. In a study involving 2,700 children, on average the children with the gene variant ate 100 calories more than those without the gene. That translates to gradual weight gain over time and can lead to obesity.

There could turn out to be many genes associated with an increased risk for obesity, so more research needs to be conducted for sure. But someday, people may be blaming their weight gain on their genes. "What? That chocolate cake? My FTO gene made me do it."

Source

What Do You Know About Your Baby's Genes?

Leta Shy — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:37:14 PDT

How'd you get those dimples or those brown eyes? From your parents, of course! We know that we inherit half of many of our personality and physical traits from mom and dad, but what else do we know about those all-important genes? If you've ever wondered how your wee ones turned out the way they did, take this true or false quiz to see what you know about the role those genes really play!

Take the Quiz

4 Moves to Say Goodbye to Saddlebags

Self — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:54:13 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

If you're saddled with saddlebags, you probably think you got the short end of the family gene pool stick. But, lucky for you, those pesky fat deposits surrounding your hips, thighs, and butt are far easier to banish than, say, Great Aunt Hilda or your bossy big sister. "Saddlebags are largely determined by genetics, hormones, and age, but women can still affect the shape of their bodies through nutrition and exercise," says Rebekah Rotstein, a New York-based Pilates instructor who recently released the Pilates For Buff Bones DVD.

Not sure where to begin? Rotstein recommends utilizing large muscle groups rather than relying on spot training for fast results. "Pilates get results because it's a whole-body exercise program and works your muscles synergistically," she says. "Muscles aren't meant to function independently but as a team!"

Just remember to keep your expectations realistic. No workout in the world can turn you into Cameron Diaz overnight. "All women have padding at their hips, no matter how thin we are (even Diaz!)," says Rotstein. "It's what differentiates us from men and accentuates the curves you've got!"

To tone up those saddlebags fast, add these four moves to your regular workout routine. Check out the moves after the break.

The Workouts That Keep Gisele Bundchen Healthy and Fit

Michele Foley — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:18:14 PST

Whether it's walking down the Victoria's Secret catwalk or cheering from the Super Bowl sidelines, Gisele Bundchen always has a healthy glow. While she probably has a few supermodel genes on her side, Gisele leads an active lifestyle that includes a varied fitness routine. Of the dozens to choose from, find out which workouts really get Gisele excited!

Source: INFDaily.com, WENN.com, Vogue

14 Geeky Languages to Learn With Your Love

Kelly Schwarze — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:15:00 PST

Love may be a universal language, but we're not sure that phrase includes the sci-fi alien races and fantastical creatures that rule the far depths of the galaxy, who express love in words beyond our human comprehension. When you're thinking of a unique way to woo your valentine this year, plan a tutorial to learn together one of these 14 geeky languages. While several of these Trekkie, Tolkien, or computer gaming-inspired languages have enough depth to warrant a university level class, many are not fully realized, so have fun discovering select words and phrases to bring to future geeky date outings.

Wookie - Made up of three dialects, the main Wookie language is Shyriiwook. As you'd expect it consists of lots of barks and grunts, but don't you dare say that to Chewbacca. The Star Wars Christmas Special has detailed examples of this mystifying tongue.
Klingon - The language of Klingons, the sometimes ally of the Federation, is arguably the best known of the imagined star languages. Described by its Hollywood creators as gutteral in tone, dedicated Trekkies maintain the Klingon Language Institue, preserving the galaxy's "fastest growing language."
Vulcan - Known as the language of Spock, one version of Vulcan looks like musical notes. Much of the language is available online today as Gene Roddenberry was insistent when making Star Trek: The Motion Picture that the Vulcans receive their own linguistic treatment.
Romulan - As biological cousins of the Vulcans, the Romulan language is difficult to differentiate from Vulcan to the untrained ear. The Central Institute of the Romulan Language ensures you get the right training to one day know the difference.
Cardassian - Residents of the Alpha Quadrant, Cardassians are a fearsome foe of the Federation. Little is known of their language, maybe because of its rectangular-shaped letters and script.
Andorian - The blue-skinned moon species from Andora appeared throughout the Star Trek series and would of course show up in the directory of a PADD.
Elvish - With a background in linguistics study from Oxford, Tolkien did not take the creation of the Lord of the Rings languages lightly. Based on Welsh and English, you can study Liv Tyler's Arwen in the film trilogy for pronunciation and read the many online Elvish resources, including an English to Elvish dictionary.
Dwarvish - Also called Khuzdul, Tolkien is said to have drawn inspiration for the secret language of the Dwarves from Hebrew, reflecting many of the same sounds and structure. As many Lord of the Rings languages, it's been almost fully realized and you can study up with the Dwarvish dictionary.

Check out even more languages to geek out over after the jump.

Miranda Kerr Makes Us Want a White Bikini - and a Warm-Weather Getaway So We Can Wear It

Hannah Weil — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:01:16 PST

One thought crossed our minds when we got a glimpse of Miranda Kerr in her white bikini today - OK, aside from the fact that this supermodel has superhuman genes - we need that suit. Miranda turned heads while shooting on the water in Sydney, showing off her enviable bod and a perfect-fit white bikini that's a perennial swimwear classic. Sure, embellishments, prints, and bold colors all have their place on the beach, but there's nothing quite like a white bikini against a glowing tan. To our point, click through for a glimpse of the ever-gorgeous Miranda, then shop our picks to get the look (and excuse us while we book our own beach getaway).

I Love Your ShopStyle: Rainy Day Whimsy

FabSugar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:30:10 PST

ShopStylist HarperLeo channels an iconic Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain moment with this rainy day-inspired ensemble. Mix and match playful patterns via a long, polka-dotted maxi skirt and a nautical-inspired navy blue striped tee. Then, dress up your look with kelly green Hunter boots, chic Tiffany & Co. earrings, a must-have bag like this Proenza Schouler version, and a cool bow-tie collar. With all the key styling pieces taken care of, there's only one thing left to do - stay dry with a super cute umbrella.

Long Skirts by Marc by Marc Jacobs
Totes by Proenza Schouler

Contrast Frill Crook Umbrella - Sold Out	Hunter® wellies - $125.00
Marc by Marc Jacobs Georgia printed silk-blend jersey midi skirt - $270.00	Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Printed striped cotton T-shirt - Sold Out
Proenza Schouler PS1 Large Leather - $1,995.00	Burberry Prorsum Regimental trench coat - Sold Out
Elsa Peretti® Teardrop earrings - $425.00

Dr. Ornish on the Power of Love, Chocolate, and Snacking

Lauren Turner — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:59:25 PST

We had a chance to chat with Dr. Dean Ornish, founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival. He's a featured health expert in the new documentary, Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare, which examines the current state of our health care system and provides hopeful solutions based on lifestyle and dietary changes. A big proponent of chronic disease prevention through healthy habits, Dr. Ornish offered up some sound advice and simple changes we can all make to improve our health - chocolate included!

FitSugar: What do you think is the most simple, overlooked thing people can do for their health?
Dr. Ornish: Love more. What you eat, how you respond to stress, how much you exercise, whether or not you smoke, how much love and support you have. But of all those, probably the love and support. Study after study has shown that people who are lonely and depressed are 10 times for likely to die or get sick. You're more likely to smoke and abuse yourself if you're lonely and depressed. It's not enough to just work at a behavioral level and give people information; you have to work at a deeper level.

FS: Everyone has days where they don't want to exercise, how do you motivate yourself on those days?
DO: If I really don't want to, I don't, and then I'll do more the next day. What matters is your overall way of eating and living. So if you don't do something one day, do a little more the next. If I don't have time to meditate for an hour, I'll do it for a minute. It's not all or nothing at any age, and it's really up to you.

FS: People like to stick with their daily habits; how do you get individuals to change their behavior towards healthier choices?
DO: It's about helping people connect the dots between what they do and how they feel, and giving them the tools. Fear is not a sustainable motivator. You can scare people into changing for a few weeks, but not for very long. When you make changes, most people find that they feel so much better so quickly, it reframes the reason for changing from fear of dying to joy of living, and that's what makes it sustainable. Also, to realize that it's not all or nothing. Instead of saying this is good food and this is bad food, and don't ever eat meat, be a vegetarian - I never tell people that. I used to a long time ago and then I realized I was actually not only not helping people, but making it worse. It turns people off because even more than being healthy, people want to be free, so when you tell people what to do they stop listening. If you eat meat five times a day, eat it three times a day or have a meatless Monday and see how you feel. If you don't exercise one day, do a little more the next. Then you start to feel better and then it comes out of your own experience, not because some doctor or some book told you.

To find out Dr. Ornish's surprising favorite indulgence and his take on snacking just read more.

3 Ways to Beat Fat Cravings

Leta Shy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:08:56 PST

Fat makes food taste good, but as we know, too much of this good thing is decidedly bad. A new study has even found that some people may be wired genetically to crave a higher amount of fatty foods than those who lack the fat-craving gene variation.

Whether or not you're wired to crave fat, being more conscious of how much you are consuming can help you reduce those cravings. Take control of your taste buds with these three ways to beat fat cravings.

Make a "Do Not Order" list: I love this tip from Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien: never order your favorite unhealthy food when dining out. Even when you have the best intentions, you risk overindulging by finishing an entire restaurant-sized order of fries or heaping pile of buttery mashed potatoes. Save those fatty can't-stop-eating-it treats for your next home-cooked meal; you'll be able to make substitutions and tweak the recipe to make it healthier, and practice portion control.

Read on for more tips for beating your fat cravings.

Check Out the 2012 People's Choice Nominations Before the Show Airs Tonight!

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:02:20 PST

The People's Choice Awards are tonight, so now's your chance to get a good look at who's up for the trophies. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is dominating the movie categories, especially since there was no Twilight film eligible for this year's awards (though Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson still earned nods because they appeared in other movies). Vampires are still big at the PCAs, at least for the TV categories - The Vampire Diaries and its stars are all over this list. On the subject of the small screen, the awards have brought in another distinction for television: network shows and cable series are now separated (and fan favorite Game of Thrones pops up for its first season).

You'll be able to watch the results when the show airs tonight, and remember: we are LIVE from the red carpet and backstage throughout the show! The live show starts at 5 p.m. PST/ 8 p.m. EST, and you can watch us here.

To get the full list of nominations, just keep reading.