FitSugar

Speak Up: Photoshopped Faith Hill

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0700

There has been a lot of talk over Faith Hill's appearance on the cover of Redbook recently due to some serious photoshop work that was done to her picture.

I never really understood it all until I stumbled onto Jezebel.com and saw the before and after pictures (above).

To me, it is upsetting that a beautiful woman like Faith Hill is not portrayed accurately. The woman in the first picture is gorgeous and real, the woman in the second picture is flawless and unreal. Women are led to believe such false images of what it means to be a sexy woman due to the very unnatural portrayals we see in the media everyday. What do you think about all this? Are photoshopped images of women something we should just deal with or is it something you would like to see come to an end? Speak up and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

How Kristen Bell Stays Fit as a Fiddle

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:50:16 -0700

Kristen Bell is no stranger to the spotlight, with her villainous role on Heroes and also starring in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Now she's in another new flick, Couples Retreat, and with her busy career, Kristen has maintained her amazing figure.

In a recent interview with Women's Heath magazine, the blond actress shares how she tries to squeeze some kind of physical activity into her schedule every day, whether it's going for a walk, taking the stairs, or hiking with her pooches. Yoga is also part of her routine to help her stay aware of her body, and strength training helps her stay toned. I love that Kristen admits she'll lift weights for much longer with a trainer than she would by herself.

Does Kristen count calories? To find out read more.

You may be surprised to hear that Kristen does keep track. "I find it almost comforting to count calories, because it makes me conscious of what I'm eating." She is a conscientious eater too. Kristen decided to go vegetarian at age 11 for animal rights, but her mom made sure she was healthy about it. Bell explains, "I try to eat more fresh foods than processed ones, and the grainiest bread possible."

Another great tip? Kristen will exercise during lunchtime, and afterward, snack on her lunch the rest of the day. Instead of devouring it all at once, she'll enjoy a handful here, do a little work, then have another gigantic handful. She says, "It spaces the meal out to a place my body can handle." When it comes to preparing food, Kristen loves to cook. Perusing recipes online and trying them out is one thing she loves to do for others. Making food yourself is one sure way to know what you're putting in your body, so you can make sure it's healthy.

Jenna Fischer Is the Office Hottie

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0700

I'm a huge fan of The Office, mostly because I've loved following the romance between the adorable receptionist Pam and her co-worker, now husband, Jim Halpert. Check out the cover of the November issue of Shape to see that Jenna Fischer, who plays the down-to-earth Pam, is smokin' hot once she takes off her cardigan and pearls. This wasn't always the case though.

After a horrible accident two years ago, falling down a flight of stairs and breaking her back in four places, Jenna became depressed and felt a little sorry for herself. So she drowned her sorrows with cheeseburgers and doughnuts, which led to some weight gain - 10 pounds. But once she fully recovered, Jenna started hiking with friends, cutting back on the high fat indulgences, and lost a few pounds this way. Although her life was growing hectic and she wanted to lose a few more pounds, she ditched her trainer and worked out on her own at home or hit the gym five days a week. This busy actress continues this routine to stay in shape. Jenna says, "I’m lucky because my fiancé will work out with me, and we keep each other motivated." Now she's thrilled to be back in size 26 jeans.

Proving that she is as down to earth as the character she portrays weekly, Jenna offers some simple wisdom on body image: "If I could tell women one thing, it would be that everyone worries about their bodies and what they look like in their clothes . . . But rather than complain about it, we should be laughing at our imperfections to make ourselves feel better."

Athletes Get Naked For ESPN

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:19:40 -0700

There seems to be a lot of nakedness going on in magazine land. First, Glamour had its "Beautiful Bodies Spread," which featured a photo gallery of seven plus-size models in the buff. Now, ESPN is featuring naked athletes in its upcoming "Body Issue," due out on newsstands Oct. 9.

There will be a total of six covers to choose from that include Serena Williams and mixed martial artist Gina Carano, as well as plenty of naked photos of athletes amongst its pages. Some of the notables being featured are Laird Hamilton, Jessica Mendoza, and Christina Kim.

Here are a few preview pics to peek at.

Photo courtesy of ESPN magazine

View 5 Photos ›

Jennifer Love Hewitt on the Shape of Things

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:30:46 -0700

Gracing October's cover of Shape magazine, Jennifer Love Hewitt looks amazingly toned and smiley in her frilly white bikini, but she has the same insecurities all women have about their bodies. She shares:

"For the most part, yeah, I'm happy with my body, but there are days when I'm like, 'Ugh! Really? Why is it so hard to fit into my jeans?' That's when I say to myself, 'I look this way because I'm supposed to. If we all looked the same, we'd be boring.'"

I think she looks fantastic, and she's shared her tips on how she keeps her body looking healthy and fit. To hear them read more.

When it comes to her diet, Jennifer grocery shops every two days. She says, "Instead of piling up food in my fridge that says 'Come eat me!' I keep enough for only a couple of days." She rarely keeps fattening treats around to avoid temptations from her late night cravings. She says, "What am I going to do? Drive out at 11 at night just to satisfy a craving? No, that's crazy." She also eats lunch. I know that sounds pretty obvious, but in her business, many women skip out in order to stay super skinny. She opts for healthy choices like a salad with every meal, and lots of fruits and veggies.

Exercise is also top on Jennifer's list. We know she plays tennis (even in heels!), and she also enjoys running, even when she's traveling. While visiting Monaco with boyfriend Jamie Kennedy, they ran 40 minutes every morning through the streets of Monte Carlo. It's a great way to explore new places and burn calories too.

Jennifer takes care of her inner self too. At night, she says five things she finds sexy about herself, and says, "I fall asleep feeling beautiful. Then in the morning, before I leave the house, I say five things I love about myself . . . That way I can go out into the world with that little bit of extra confidence."

Tell me in the comments section below one thing that you find sexy about yourself. Go ahead and share five things if you feel it!

Body Acceptance: Are You More Like Kelly or Jessica?

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:30:36 -0700

Both Kelly Clarkson and Jessica Simpson have gotten flack for their fluctuating weight, but the starlets don't let it get to them. Jessica talks about embracing her curves, while Kelly complains about being Photoshopped. Now, both ladies are gracing magazine covers and discussing, among other things, their body acceptance.

In the August issue of Glamour, Jessica admits to worrying about her weight from a young age: "I was always disconnected from myself; there was this idea of perfection I couldn't ever get to. But all women struggle with insecurity, and we all have something we don't like about ourselves." Kelly is a bit more laid-back, saying: "My happy weight changes. Sometimes I eat more; sometimes I play more. I'll be different sizes all the time."

While it sounds like both women have a healthy relationship with their bodies, Kelly sounds like she gives it less thought than Jess does. Who are you more like?

Exercise No Good For Weight Loss?

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:30:17 -0700

A couple of years ago the Cardio Free Diet introduced popular culture to the concept that exercise and weight loss were incompatible. Recently we learned that exercise doesn't boost fat-burning. Now Time magazine's new cover story investigates the seemingly detrimental relationship even further. A thumbnail sketch of the article: exercise makes you hungry, so you eat more and don't lose weight.

Should you give up the treadmill forever? Learn more.

How to Get Fit Like Lost's Evangeline Lilly

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:50:44 -0700

Workouts that don't require equipment are always welcome in my fitness repertoire, especially during Summer when I like to exercise outdoors or am traveling to places without a convenient gym. Women's Health featured Lost actress Evangeline Lilly on its June cover, and the online version of the magazine shares the secrets to getting fit like its ripped cover model.

Certified personal trainer Jessica Matthews developed a sequence of exercises concentrating on the arms and shoulders, which also includes strengthening core and leg moves. Mathews says, "Bodyweight exercises allow for limitless possibilities. They use a variety of muscle groups and train the body to become more balanced and stable at the joints." Her sequence features seven moves: forward lunges, push-ups, forearm side planks, limb raises, boat pose, and plank-ups. To see an instructive video that explains how to do each move in detail, read more.

LeAnn Covers Fitness, and Health

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:00:00 -0800

I always love hearing about how couples motivate each other to get healthy, but now more than ever since it's Valentine's Day. LeAnn Rhimes recently told Fitness magazine that her husband was the driving force behind finally being able to get healthy.

Here are highlights:

"I wasn't taking care of my health. I was getting out of breath in the middle of the show . . . and sometimes I was getting really sick." The solution came with the emotional stability provided by her husband Dean - who also provided her something more: a workout partner. "[Dean and I] both push each other to be better."

LeAnn definitely eats healthy, too. To see what an average day of eating looks like for her just read more.

I usually eat a bowl of oatmeal with agave nectar, dried cherries, and walnuts in the morning. I have a protein shake after the gym, then grilled chicken, a whole-wheat pita, and humus for lunch.

Come afternoon there's another snack, then, for dinner, I might have trout with spinach sautéed in garlic and olive oil and a piece of dark chocolate for dessert.

Valerie Bertinelli Believes in Her Amazing Body

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:00:48 -0700

2009 is the year of firsts for Valerie Bertinelli. Back in March she appeared in a bikini on the cover of People magazine after losing 50 pounds, and this weekend she completed the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half-Marathon. Valerie crossed the finish line in 2:12:19 and commented, "I am in amazement. I can't believe what a body can do if you believe in it."

She had her boyfriend and workout buddy Tom Vitale with her every step of the way, and she ramped up her training regimen during the months leading up to the race. That meant more running, ab-work, and upper body workouts. Valerie is still on a high from finishing the half-marathon, but her trainer thinks she's going to do a full marathon before she's 50. She said, "I have till April. I'm not committing yet! I haven't wrapped my head around it. We're negotiating."

It seems to me that if Valerie puts her mind to something, her body will follow. Her achievements prove that having faith in yourself can work wonders.