FitSugar

Another Reason Not to Smoke: Quitting Is Hard

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:30:00 -0800

Even though we like to scoff at celebrities and say they have everything so much easier than we do, quitting smoking is rough no matter who you are. Katherine Heigl, well-known as a heavy smoker, recently talked to the Washington Post about her troubles with quitting. And guess what? It's not easy even for her. Here are highlights:

"It's so stupid. I started when I was like 22 or 23, and I had my first cigarette at a bar one night, and I was like mmm. I'll try this. I can have just one. I am not gonna get addicted. Then you start bumming. I'm bumming. I don't buy my own packs. I'm not addicted."

"Then you go through something that is hard or difficult or stressful and you buy your first pack and it's all over, and now it's all about how you're going to quit," she says. "I've tried everything."

"I've tried Wellbutrin," a drug also used to treat depression, "which made me really happy while I smoked. Tried the patch. Tried gum. I hate the gum. It burns my mouth. I think I have to quit the old-fashioned way."

So there you have it. Obviously it's best not even to start in the first place, but if you're struggling with quitting, you're certainly not alone. Here's hoping that Katherine, and all smokers, finally nip it in the bud.

Pacific Coast News

A Week In Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Watch the Mini Boot Camp exercise video, then print out the Take It To the Gym chart of the exercises. Have fun!!!!

Saka Yoga Bag Giveaway!!! Have you already left your comment about your favorite yoga pose? If not, leave one to enter to win this great bag. Comments section will close at 9:15 am PST...so you should do it now.

Do you know if prunes or bananas have more fiber? Take the quiz and test your knowledge.

If you are still shopping for your dad, check out this Healthy Gifts for your Dad. If you can't find what you are looking for there, maybe you will find the perfect gift in this post More Healthy Gift Ideas for Dad.

The Katherine Heigl interview in "Glamour" is pretty interesting - She talks about her weight loss regimen for her role in Knocked Up.

More on celebs: Angelina Jolie is not thin because of vanity, but because of breastfeeding.

Just wanted to warn you to be careful with muscle cream! Too much of those soothing balms can be toxic to your body.

Going out for sushi this weekend? You should check out this sushi breakdown, it will help you order.

Planning your vacation? Why not take an eco-adventure.

Tight hamstrings? Try the seated forward bend. It feels great and stretching your legs is a great thing you can do for your body.

Looking for a way to mix up your cardio routine? Try the 4-5-6-6-5-4: Cardio Plan.

Here are a few tips on easing the pain of your sunburn, in case you didn't use enough sunscreen.

Tell me, which do you like less: arm work or ab work.

Katherine Heigl in Glamour

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 08:45:00 -0700

I think we are all in agreement that, aside from the disgusting smoking habit, Katherine Heigl seems to have it together.

The folks over at Glamour got the scoop on her weight loss, her own body image and Hollywood's pressures to be thin:

GLAMOUR: Was it hard to lose weight for a role?
KH: It was awful! I remember once reading an article about Jessica Alba-who is the most beautiful, most in-shape person alive-and how committed she was to her regimen. And I thought, There’s no way in hell that will ever be me. I can’t eat only fish and vegetables or work out seven days a week. Then suddenly I was that person and I was shocked. But I could never maintain it. I like food too much!

GLAMOUR: You seem to have a very healthy attitude toward your body. Do you own a scale?
KH: No, because it can make you kind of crazy. I used to weigh myself every day at a certain time of day. Then I would write down the number and measure my body fat. It wasn’t a healthy way to live. Now I can tell if I’ve gained or lost weight just by the way my clothes are fitting. But it’s tempting to buy a scale, because I’d love to know what I weigh. Whatever-I’ll just lie and say 120. [Laughs.]

GLAMOUR: How do you ignore all the messages in Hollywood to stay rail-thin?
KH: When I see some of the people who are glorified in magazines these days-who are so thin it’s bordering on sickness-I just feel exhausted. I would hate to think that young girls in high schools across America think that’s what they’re supposed to look like.

GLAMOUR: Who do you think has a healthy-looking body?
KH: Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry are both in amazing shape. They look phenomenal but they don’t look sick. Then there’s Kate Winslet: She’s confident, beautiful, talented and sexy and she owns it. Early in my career, I read an interview she gave about how the industry wanted her to lose weight; she basically gave them the finger and said no. I remember thinking, I can do that too. I don’t have to look like one of these genetically superior people in order to work.

There's a lot more to her story so check out the full interview on Glamour.com.

Source

Get the Bod: Katherine Heigl

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:30:00 -0700

Now that "Grey's Anatomy" is on break, we're getting our fix of the doctors in other ways. Katherine Heigl (aka Izzie Stevenson) has been promoting her new flick Knocked Up and apparently a rather revealing love scene was just the motivation Heigl needed to hit the gym (not that she really needed to, aesthetically).

People.com got the scoop from her trainer, Harley Pasternak, on what she did (and still does) to tone up her bod.

Heigl, 28, met with him for cardio and circuit-training sessions of 25 to 50 minutes, up to five times a week for six weeks prior to shooting. On-set, she'd jump rope or lift dumbbells outside her trailer. All the while, she ate Pasternak's 5-Factor Diet, which delivered five high-protein, high-fiber meals a day.

Even with a scheduled weekly "cheat day," says Pasternak, Heigl soon looked "tighter and more toned."

As for the former gym-hater, Heigl says now, a year after filming, she still works out regularly. "I used to have back pain. Suddenly, my body is supporting itself the way it's supposed to," Heigl says. "I wake up and I go, 'My god, I can't believe this is my body!' "

Want to see a sample of her typical workout and diet? Then read more
Typical Workout for Heigl:

5 minutes of jump-roping, jogging, or stair-climbing for a cardio warm-up.
A circuit of 4 sets each of the following:
- 25 dumbbell flies
- 25 lunges
- 25 low-body crunches
Followed by:
- 5-25 minutes of cardio running, elliptical training, stair-climbing or biking, with the last five minutes working as a cool-down period.

Sample Day's Meals:
Breakfast: French toast with ricotta pillows
Mid-morning snack: A mixed-berry shake
Lunch: TexMex salad with chicken and black beans
Afternoon snack: Hummus crudite
Dinner: Sea Bass with brown rice and edamame

Source

Sunshine and the Stars

FitSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Celebs are really getting on board for Skin Cancer Awareness as Neutrogena recently asked celebrities to create for charity, original signed artwork, (using colored pencils and markers), which illustrate the sun. The one-of-a-kind drawings are currently being auctioned off on eBay.com until Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 12:00pm PDT. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society - Skin Cancer Research. The artwork is quite funny since most of them look like they could have been created by a child, when in reality they have been drawn by notables like Katherine Heigl, Omar Epps, Reverend Run, Kenan Thompson, Kevin James, Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere, ~~Brandon Walsh~~ Jason Priestley and more. Who knew Hollywood was so on-board with skin cancer prevention? It's not too late to get your free screening!

To see more celeb artwork, read more

Bonus points if you can figure out immediately which one is Hayden Panettiere's?

View 8 Photos ›

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:00:27 -0700

10 drinks to help you skip the soda - Mark's Daily Apple
Yoga in India could just be the ultimate stress relief - Social Workout
Get the skinny on sugar substitutes - Shape
Maintain your healthy weight: clear your closest to keep off the pounds - Shape Up!
Why Katherine Heigl envies Nicole Richie - That's Fit
Cleat up and head to the field. It's soccer time - Fresh Fitness Tips
Christian Bale goes to extremes with weight loss for a role - Fit Celeb
Three ways to sip your vitamins - Fit Bottomed Girls
Take care of your knees and they will keep on running - Health

Angie Unhappy with "Thin" Accusations, Blames Breastfeeding

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

We were all happy to hear that Katherine Heigl rejects Hollywood's pressure to be thin. Now Angelina Jolie is speaking about being thin in Hollywood as well, but as a mother.

Aside from dealing with the painful loss of her mom, Angelina attributes some of her weight loss to being a mom dealing with breastfeeding.

Jolie sparked concern among fans earlier this year when her already thin frame grew even smaller and the veins on her arms started protruding. But she insists that vanity is not to blame for her shrinking figure.

"I have four kids and I finished breastfeeding – it's been hard to get my nutrition back on track. Instead of people saying I look like a person dealing with something emotionally, they assume it's because I want to fit into skinny jeans." She added, "Someone saying to me that I'm thin is not a compliment.”

Weight control after giving birth is difficult for all women (even Angelina Jolie), but especially for those breastfeeding. So for tips on breastfeeding and nutrition, read more

Staying on top of your nutrition while breastfeeding can ultimately help keep you on track after breastfeeding as well. To ensure keeping a grip on you and your baby's nutrition, try these tips from WebMD:

Complex carbohydrates are among the best foods you can eat while breastfeeding. "If you look at the Weight Watcher's diet for lactation, it's all about complex carb loading. It's one of the most successful long-term lactation weight loss programs for women. It helps them lose weight without sacrificing milk production," says Linda M. Hanna, IBCLC, program coordinator for Lactation and Prenatal Education Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
In addition, Hanna says it's also important to get enough protein and fat in your diet. Aim for at least three to five servings (1 ounce each) of fat a day. These could be vegetable oils, butter, or even mayonnaise. This, she says, will help your body to make a good supply of the super-fatty and satisfying "hind" milk that is expressed during the later half of each feeding, Hanna says.
"In the end we are talking about eating a balanced diet, with complex carbohydrates, protein, and fats, and with as little sugar and sugary snacks as possible," says Hanna.
Among the most important nutrients you need while breastfeeding is calcium -- a minimum of 1,000 mg daily is a must. While dairy foods are a great source, you don't have to drink milk to make milk. To meet your calcium needs, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests five daily servings of any calcium-rich food, including low-fat yogurt and cheese, as well as nondairy foods such as salmon, broccoli, sesame seeds, tofu, and kale.

Bauer-Griffin and Source

A Week In Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 04:00:00 -0700

I want to know which you think is worse when traveling: jet lag or constipation? Vote on the poll and let me know.

Have you tried this move yet? The full sit-up / bridge combo works your abs and your fanny.

Take that TreadMill to the top of the mountain with this cardio hike. It will get your heart rate pumping!!!

If it is cool enough to bake where your are, try this cool super low fat, quick bread recipe: banana with chocolate, cherries and walnuts.

Want to learn what Katherine Heigl does for her workout?

Interested in knowing how Consumer Reports ranks Hot Dogs and Light Beer? Could be good info to have on hand if you are going to a BBQ sometime this weekend.

Don't forget to weigh in on the Are Fidgeters More Skinny poll.

Have you seen FitFlops? Yep, flip flops that make your legs work more.

Don't forget that the sun can damage your hair (not to mention chlorine and saltwater). Try this at home spa treatment for moisturizing dry hair.

Going food shopping this weekend? Try to just shop the perimeter.

US ranked 10 starlets beach bodies, I'd like to know how you would rank them and why. So go ahead and speak up.

Have you tried this week's yoga pose: Balancing Wide Legs?

Celebrity Trainers Give US the Scoop...

FitSugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 12:30:00 -0700

People are always ~~begging~~ asking me what Jessica Biel does to look so fit, as if I know the girl personally or something. So when I come across anything related to what she does (or eats, or thinks about eating), I like to give you guys the scoop because, I'll admit it: That girl does look good in her jeans, but she looks killer in a bikini.

USMagazine.com has gotten inside information from Jason Walsh, Jessica's trainer, along with other notable celeb trainers on what the stars are doing these days:

Change is good! Jessica Biel's trainer, Jason Walsh, likes to keep his client mentally stimulated. "I'm a big advocate of recreational sports and stuff. If someone can get out there, even if it's a hike or something like that, just to break up the monotony of going to the gym...I really like that."
Hard work is even better. According to Walsh, Biel's workouts are intense. "We do full body movements. You are pretty much using as many muscles at once, which in turn will jack that heart rate up."
Food is not the enemy. If you're out and about as Walsh recommends, you need snacks and drinks to give you sustained energy. He suggests "really organic and clean foods, all natural, like nuts." Also, "an amino acid drink, so that you're not burning up a lot of your muscle, or protein."
Everything old is new again. Walsh loves to use medicine balls with his intermediate to advanced level clients. "Get a medicine ball and do a lunge with a twist while you are holding the ball. Those are great. You are activating so many muscles at once, and you are using those muscles over so many different plains."
Healthy meals can be tasty. Harley Pasternak, who works with Eva Mendes and Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl, taught both of the actresses how to cook meals with some easy, healthy substitutions. "Breakfast would be whole grain bread French toast with egg whites and cinnamon. For a mid-morning snack, they'd do a mixed-berry protein shake. Lunch might be sweet potato tuna melt. An afternoon snack might be hummus with celery sticks. Dinner would be spaghetti and meatballs with spaghetti squash and meatballs made of turkey or chicken breast."
Just because it's trendy doesn't mean it works. Pasternak doesn't do yoga or pilates with his clients. "Those are great forms of exercise for stability and balance, but neither one of those is going to change your body dramatically like training with weights does."
The "F" word is not all bad. Rachel McAdams' trainer, Jerry Owen, says, "The biggest problem is that people are fat phobic. It¹s clinically proven that we need healthy fat in our diets. You need to eat a balanced diet but not be afraid of fat, like Omega 3 fatty acids like walnuts, olive oil and even coconut oil."
Focus on your whole body - not just problem areas. Owens tells Us the best way to lose weight and tone up is "to blend nutrition, exercise, and physical therapy. The body responds better. People get too wrapped up in doing isolated movement, like being very body part specific."
All cardio and no lifting makes for bad workouts. "People get too cardio-crazy and need to do more weight lifting," says Owens. He explains that for many people on elliptical machines, "their heart Rate is about the same as if they were shopping around a mall."
Everybody needs a break. Owens delivers the best news possible: working out for more than an hour is a "waste of time." He suggests gym-goers "take one to two days off a week: have a massage, make sure you get plenty of rest. The muscles actually change when they're recovering."

Flynet

Healthy Dose!!!!

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 14:20:00 -0800

While surfing the web I am always on the look out for stories I think you all might like. Here is what I have found for you - a healthy dose of the web.

Sam from realbuzz.comdiscusses benefits of holding your stretches for longer.

Health Bolt busts the common myths on stopping nose bleeds.

Complete Running Network gives you the skinny on on the Body Mass Index.

Heather at families.com gives you the basics on weight training.

The Diet Detective uncovers Katherine Heigl's (Izzie of Grey's Anatomy) exercise regimen.

About: Yoga shows you a great pose to work your core.

That's Fit reviews the Vice Busting Diet.

Starling Fitness wants to know what is on your happy and healthy list.

Source