Daisy Fuentes in Fitness Magazine

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:00:00 -0700

We are offered a breath of fresh air in the world of magazine covers as lovely Daisy Fuentes graces the cover of the September issue of Fitness Magazine as their first Mind, Body Spirit Superstar (a fab way to generate awareness of top women’s health causes and work to promote change).

Along with reminding all women not to be too hard on themselves, she talks mainly about her new focus in life: Positive body image.

Fitness: Do you think our society has an obsession with thinness?
Daisy: Yeah. There was a time when I was caught up in it too. I had to stop myself from saying, “I’m fat.” It’s not good for your self-esteem, and it’s not good for the people around you. I see moms with little girls who say, “I’m fat. I can’t eat that.” We need to stop doing that. We have to set an example for younger girls.

Fitness: Do Hispanic women feel the pressure to be thin?
Daisy: I think we do. There’s a part of you that really wants to embrace your curves, then there’s society saying no one likes curves. It takes someone as confident as Jennifer Lopez to turn a body part that’s often considered a flaw into something hot. The lesson? Stop listening to society and focus on yourself.

There's more, including when she feels best about her body and her typical diet, so read more

Fitness: Did you ever worry about the way you looked?
Daisy: When I was younger, I used to worry about it all the time. Now I know that I’m doing the best I can. I don’t care about the criticism.

Fitness: When do you feel best about your body?
Daisy: When I’m exercising. For this shoot, I did a lot of circuit training, and I really felt my body working. I didn’t obsess about calories. I just made sure all the basic food groups were in my diet.

Fitness: What is your typical diet?
Daisy: I try to make healthy choices. I keep cookies and chips for guests, but I also keep veggie sticks and salad fixings. I’d say 90 percent of the time, I go for the healthy option. If I’m really full after I eat, I feel like crap. So I’ve learned to eat just until I’m satisfied.

Fitness: How do you think the image Hispanic women have of themselves will change in five years?
Daisy: I like the multicultural celebration of body image that is going on now. [I’m happy] that we’re all starting to see how beauty shines through no matter what you look like. I’m also a big supporter of charities that boost girls’ self-esteem. Girls on the Run, a group that helps preteens develop healthy lifestyles through running, is one of my favorites.

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With all that said, I'm a big Daisy fan. Be sure to check out the full story, as well as what exactly Daisy did to prepare for the shoot, in the September issue of Fitness.

Brooke Shields Shines on Fitness

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Brooke Shields has been an icon of beauty since she started modeling. Along with beauty, today Brooke can also add actress, mother and role model to her list of credentials.

Fitness Magazine got the scoop from Brooke as she follows Daisy Fuentes as the latest Mind, Body and Spirit Superstar of 2007. Here are highlights from the interview:

On staying fit: “I try to do an hour of something everyday. It's almost impossible when I'm working, because I'm on the set for 14-16 hours…But on days when the baby has woken up four times during the night, putting my sneakers on is the last thing I want to do. I'd rather have four cups of coffee, and, after the caffeine wears off, take a nap with her! I used to have a very type-A lifestyle, but being a mom changed all that.”
On staying motivated to workout: It’s easier when I have an external motivation, like getting ready for Broadway. [She starred in Grease in 1995, Cabaret in 2001 and Chicago in 2005.] I had to go into those shows at the top of my game, physically, because the schedule was so rigorous. It’s like the Olympics-only it lasts six months!

There's more, including foods she avoids and her favorite toning up move, so read more

On foods she avoids: Carbs are the first thing to go if I want to lose weight. I never used to eat red meat, but now, if I crave it-which usually happens when I have my period-I go for it. I also love ice cream. I try not to deny myself, because if I do, it turns into this major internal battle. So I pop a couple of Dove Miniatures. I can satisfy myself without going overboard. I also try to drink tons of water. I can actually see how much healthier my skin and hair look when I do.
On toning up: “I don’t lift weights,” she says.“It’s easy for me to bulk up. I keep my muscles toned by doing yoga.” One super-effective pose, says Ish Moran, her former instructor at Maha Yoga in Brentwood, California, is the chattaranga pose, which works the triceps.

The October issue of Fitness Magazine just hit newsstands, so check it out to read the full inspiring article with Brooke.

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