FitSugar

Your Desire For French Fries Could Be in Your Genes

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:06:55 -0800

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."

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Good Genes Gone Bad

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 08:35:00 -0800

Pretty soon you're going to be able to blame your mom for giving you more than you may have originally thought.

Recent reports claim that your body shape is determined primarily by your genes. Researchers identified three fat-predicting genes: T-box 15, glypican 4, and homeo box A5 (... the names sound more like the names of rappers than the names of genes if you ask me). This could explain why you may feel like a pear when your co-worker (who eats worse than you) is more like a banana.

Why should we care about this news? Well the newly found genes may finally give researchers clues for obesity drug development in the future. But for now, if you feel like your own genes may be working against you, eat a healthy and balanced diet and start exercising.

Heidi Klum's Got a Good Take on Her Post-Baby Bod

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:30:38 -0800

Thanks to a healthy attitude - and a little encouragement from hubby Seal - Heidi Klum is working to get her body back in shape after baby number four. Still, if you're expecting the supermodel to take a turn in the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, you might be surprised to learn that she won't be walking the runway this year, but playing hostess duty instead.

In an interview with US Weekly, it seems this mom is a little more realistic when it comes to shaping up her body after giving birth. Heidi told the magazine:

"I wouldn't say I'm back in the shape yet. But I don't know. Everything changes when you get older. It was different when I was 31 with the first one. Now, being 36 with the fourth one, it's different."

It seems to me the mom is setting a realistic expectation for getting back in shape and going about it the right way. She knows that it takes some work to get the bod you want, saying that, "For me, it always works to get back into it immediately. I think that if you wait too long, it kind of sticks on and it stays there forever. I have to be motivated." Still, she's not gym-crazed or diet-obsessed, adding that she's not exercising too much for now: "I walk on the treadmill a little bit. I walk on the driveway. I'm very active with the children." Sure, she's blessed with some supermodel genes (and possibly a very long driveway), but even still, Heidi's take on weight loss seems surprisingly down-to-earth to me - do you agree?

Reality Check: Ashlee Isn't a No Carbs Kind of Girl

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:02 -0800

Even though she lives the So Cal lifestyle, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz told Women's Health that she doesn't starve herself for a Hollywood figure; she simply loves food, and one of her favorite feasts features Mexican fare. Once a week Ashlee and her hubby, Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, invite family and friends over for taco night. Ashlee told the mag that she's not afraid of cheese, eats cheeseburgers with ranch dressing, and indulges in French fries. But don't spread the rumor that she's eating for two, because she's not, and Ashlee shares that she's even slimmer than ever.

She boasts about devouring whatever she wants, doesn't deprive herself of the foods she craves, and still has such a great figure. To find out what she asys is her secret, read more.

Ashlee's secret weapon is Bronx Pilates! Her 1-year-old son is in her arms all day, and carrying around that extra weight has helped to really tone her arms.

Before she gave birth, Ashlee had gained 50 pounds, and her breasts were up to a size E when she was nursing. So once baby Bronx was two weeks old, she was ready to start losing the extra pounds. A home-delivery meal plan didn't work since she's a big eater. She says, "If I want a grilled cheese sandwich, I'll eat a grilled cheese sandwich." So she turned to exercise, and with the help of a personal trainer, the new mama set up a home gym and started circuit training. Four weeks later, Ashlee had lost half her baby weight. Her diligent workouts have definitely paid off. Of course, this young actress also has her youth and genes to thank. Though she looks amazing now, Ashlee dispels the notion that her bod was a result of Hollywood stress. She says, "I wasn't in a rush to get back to this body for anyone else. It was more like, 'I wanna look good [for me]? I wanna feel good.'"

Ashlee is feeling great and very appreciative of her family and all life has blessed her with. On top of a great career and a healthy son, her hubby is a great source of comfort and support. "Pete isn't worried about stretch marks, " she says, "He always makes me feel sexy."

The way she explains it, she doesn't really do anything currently to maintain her figure. Do you believe it?

Reality Check: Ashlee Simpson Thanks Her Youth and Genes

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:30:41 -0700

From breastfeeding to boot camp, celebrities have countless ways of quickly shedding their baby weight - some of them more believable than others. But Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is refreshingly honest about her method, which isn't as easy to imitate.

Simpson told Celebrity Baby Blog that she credits her youth and genes with her ability to slim down after having Bronx, who is now eight months old. Though she exercised, she confesses that getting back in shape didn't require much effort:

"After I had Bronx I lucked out," she admits. "I mean, I’m 24 years old, [I have] the genes from my mother and I did work out for three months."

As many of us know, age can be a big factor when it comes to gaining and easily losing weight. I've often secretly rolled my eyes when the media marvels at how quickly young starlets like Simpson and Jessica Alba get their bodies back after baby. Do you think that age and genetics are a major factor in someone's ability to lose weight?

Christina Applegate Explains Her Double Mastectomy

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

At age 36, a double mastectomy may seem extreme treatment for breast cancer, but as Christina Applegate explained on the Oprah Winfrey Show, her genes were stacked against her.

Applegate's mother survived breast cancer after being diagnosed with the disease back in the '70s. Having a female relative with breast cancer greatly increases a woman's risk for developing the disease, which is why Christina has been getting mammograms since she was 30 years old. Upping her chances even more, Applegate tested positive for the BRCA gene, which is sometimes referred to as the "breast cancer gene." Testing positive for the BRCA genetic mutation not only greatly increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, it also increases the chances of the cancer recurring. After weighing her options, Applegate decided rather quickly to have a double mastectomy, saying that as a Sagittarius she just needed to know how she was going to tackle the problem.

To see how she explained her decision-making process to Oprah, just read more.

That [testing positive for the BRCA gene] sort of changed everything for me. Radiation was something temporary, and it wasn't addressing the issue of this [cancer] coming back or the chance of it coming back in my left breast. I sort of had to kind of weigh all my options at that point. It just seemed like, "I don't want to have to deal with this again. I don't want to keep putting that stuff in my body. I just want to be done with this." And I was just going to let them go.

Although she feels she made the right decision for her situation, considering her family history and genetic makeup, the surgery was still dramatic and painful - physically and emotionally. Another deciding factor was that after much research, Applegate found that they can make "some pretty boobies" these days. She has saline expanders in her chest to make space for future breast implants. Even thought she admits to crying daily, she is looking on the brighter side of things these days; Christina is happy that she will never have to wear a bra again. I for one am happy to see this funny gal with a smile on her face once again. And I am happy to know she beat breast cancer and to know that she is spreading the word on breast cancer detection and therapies.

If you were in her situation, what would you do? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Genes

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:55:20 -0700

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

A gene is a short piece of DNA, which tells the body how to build a specific protein. There are approximately 30,000 genes in each cell of the human body. The combination of all genes makes up the blueprint for the human body and its functions.

A person's genetic makeup is called a genotype.

Information

Genes are located on strands of DNA, just like beads on a string. The DNA strands make up the chromosomes.

Chromosomes are matching pairs of one copy of a specific gene. The gene occurs in the same position on each chromosome.

In females, one chromosome gets its gene from the mother, the other matching chromosome has the gene from the father.

In males, a single X chromosome comes from the mother and a non-matching Y chromosome comes from the father.

Genetic traits, such as eye color, are described as dominant or recessive:

Dominant traits are controlled by one gene in the pair.
Recessive traits require both genes in the gene pair to work together to control the trait.

Many personal characteristics, such as height, are determined by more than one gene. However, some diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, can be caused by a change in a single gene. For detailed information, see heredity and disease.

How Octomom Slimmed Down to 125 Pounds

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:00:37 -0700

Whatever your opinion of Nadya Suleman's decision to carry eight babies at once, most can agree that her quick slim-down is rather astonishing. When her octuplets were born nine months ago, Nadya weighed 270 pounds. In the latest issue of Us Weekly, she admitted she packed on the pounds by "eating everything in sight." Now this five-foot-seven single mom of 14 has lost 145 pounds and 39 inches off her waist and weighs 125 pounds.

How did she do it? To find out, read more.

With her previous pregnancies, the Octomom admitted she had no problems getting back to her pre-pregnancy size 1 or 2, thanks to her skinny genes. This last time around, simply delivering the eight babies in January helped Nadya lose 40 pounds instantly. Losing the rest of the weight, however, wasn't a walk in the park. This mama joined the local gym and sweats it out three times a week at midnight! Yep, after her children go to sleep, a nanny stays with them while she exercises late-night for 90 minutes. Since Nadya gets her cardio from chasing after the kids, her gym workouts are devoted to strength training. She does top-secret crunches (which she hopes to reveal in her own fitness video), tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, shoulder presses, and lunges. Her dumbbell of choice? A set of 12-pound weights. I don't know how she does it, but Nadya claims she gets by on only three hours of sleep a night. She can't possibly keep that up for too long.

A healthy diet also helped Suleman lose her baby weight. Her day is filled with five protein-based meals or snacks, including turkey, sushi, eggs, and lowfat cheese. She also includes whole grains such as oatmeal, and veggies by eating salads and stews. Her favorite snacks include Pinkberry frozen yogurt and cottage cheese with fruit.

Although Nadya needed help to get pregnant and deliver her babies, she boasts that she's slimmed down with diet and exercise alone, and didn't need any surgical help.

Parenteral solutions (Injection)

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:03:20 -0700

Overview

Introduction
Brand Name(s)
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
How to Use This Medicine
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Warnings While Using This Medicine
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Introduction

Provides your body with nutrients such as protein, sugar, vitamins, minerals, and sometimes fat (lipids). Parenteral solution is needed when you cannot eat food by mouth or if you cannot get enough nutrition from your diet for several days. You may need parenteral solution if you have serious medical problems such as AIDS, cancer, or serious burns.

Brand Name(s)

Normosol-M w/5% Dextrose, Isolyte S w/Dextrose, Plasma-Lyte 56 w/Dextrose, Dextrose, Ionosol Mb/5% Dextrose, Flolan Sterile Diluent, R-Gene 10, Plasma-Lyte 148 w/Dextrose, Isolyte M w/Dextrose

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

Parenteral solution provides nutrients that your body needs. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, there is no reason why you should not receive this medicine.

How to Use This Medicine

Injectable

Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
You may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If you receive this medicine at home, a caregiver will teach you, a family member, or friend how to give the medicine. You may need to add vitamins or medicine to the solution before using it. Your caregiver will show you how to do this.
Do not use this medicine if the solution (liquid) looks cloudy or has solid pieces floating in it. Do not use the medicine if it is separated like oil and water, or is leaking from the bag. Carefully follow any instructions for mixing, preparing, and giving this medicine.

If a dose is missed:

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

If you store this medicine at home, keep it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.
Remove the medicine from the refrigerator at least 2 hours before using it. This will bring the solution to room temperature and make the injection more comfortable for you. Do not heat the medicine in a microwave oven.
Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets. Follow any special instructions about how to throw away empty medicine bottles, tubes, or bags.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Do not use any other vitamins or mineral supplements without asking your doctor first.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Your nutritional needs may be higher than normal.
Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, blood clotting problems, or high cholesterol. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to vitamins, eggs, oils, or peanuts.
Make sure your doctor knows if you have medical problems with your pancreas, liver, or kidney, or if you have heart disease.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
Your doctor will need to check your blood or urine at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Confusion and weakness with muscle twitching.
Confusion and weakness with uneven heartbeat and shortness of breath.
Numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or lips.
Pale, hot, dry skin with fruit-like breath odor, fainting, and shortness of breath.
Rapid weight gain.
Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet.
Yellow skin or eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, increased thirst.
Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting.
Increase in how much or how often you urinate.
Pain, redness, swelling, or cold feeling where the needle is placed.

Review Date: 8/4/2008

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 45_4836

Part Six: 8 Secrets of the Naturally Thin

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:30:00 -0700

We all want to know what those naturally thin people are doing to stay so um, naturally thin. Prevention has discovered that healthy thin people just don't think about food the same way as everyone else. In this 8 part series, I'll reveal Prevention's 8 Secrets of Naturally Thin People one by one.

They Have A Self-Control Gene: Researchers at Tufts University found that the biggest predictor of weight gain among women in their 50s and 60s was their level of disinhibition, or unrestrained behavior. Women with low disinhibition (in other words, a finely tuned sense of restraint) had the lowest body mass index. High disinhibition (i.e., low restraint) was linked to an adult weight gain of as much as 33 pounds.

Emulate Them: Prepare for moments when your disinhibition is likely to be higher--such as when you're in a festive atmosphere with a large group of friends. If you're at a party, tell yourself you'll take one of every fourth passed hors d'oeuvre. If you're out at dinner, order an appetizer portion and share dessert. Or if you're stressed--another low-restraint moment--make sure you have a source of crunchy snacks (like fruit or carrot sticks) at the ready.

More secrets revealed this week. Did you miss any? You can see all the secrets here.

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