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Olympics 2016: And the Winner Is . . .

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:30:31 -0700

It's seven years away but Olympic fever started early for Chicagoans, as the city threw its hat in the ring to host the 2016 Summer games. Despite lobbying from Chicago notables like the Obamas and Oprah Winfrey, hopes were dashed when the Windy City didn't make it past the first-round eliminations. Brazil will be celebrating tonight - Rio de Janeiro has been picked as the host city, a first ever for South America.

Oprah's Trainer Explains Science of Weight Relapse

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0800

Oprah Winfrey has opened up about her weight gain, and her trainer Bob Greene has been right behind her in discussions about the emotional reasons for his famous client's issues with food abuse. However, for many people there's more to weight relapse than having an unbalanced life, and Greene gives some insight into the science of regaining unwanted weight.

Research has shown that a brain deficient in dopamine receptors could be more susceptible to weight relapse. Eating raises dopamine levels and makes some people desire more food, and overeating often occurs because it takes more food to reach a the same level of satisfaction when the brain lacks normal levels of dopamine.

Greene says that if you suspect that your dopamine levels are off, seek out sources of pleasure other than food and avoid any food that tends to trigger overeating. He recommends "hanging out with people you enjoy" and exercise as healthy alternatives to raise dopamine levels.

Oprah on Food Abuse

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:30:00 -0800

By now you've probably heard about Oprah's 40 pound weight gain. She's been extremely open and honest about "falling off the health wagon" and is back to the weighing the dreaded 2-0-0. Her thyroid problem is not the cause of the weight gain or simply over eating. Oprah abused food. When she couldn't satisfy her metaphoric hunger for life balance, she ate and didn't know when to stop. Take a look at the video below to hear her explain.

When it comes to losing or maintaining a healthy weight, although it is difficult you have to put yourself first. A spare hour for exercising isn't just going to magically appear in your schedule. You have to carve out the time, whether it means setting your alarm earlier, hitting the gym on your lunch break, or taking on less commitments.

To see Oprah's plan to help her stop abusing food and regain order and balance in her life, read more.

Oprah is kicking off her Best Life Week to get herself back to a healthy lifestyle and inspire others to do the same. Check out what Oprah has planned for 2009. We can all learn from this list of healthy resolutions.

Put yourself back on your to-do list and make yourself a priority. Oprah's rearranged her schedule so she has "me time," for exercising and pampering.
Plan your meals. Make a schedule each week for all your meals and snacks, because if you don't plan, you'll end up getting hungry and reaching for corn chips or some other quick and not-so-healthy food.
Include cardio in your exercise routine. Oprah does at least 30 minutes a day.
Include resistance training. Use weights, resistance bands, kettlebells, machines, or do strength training exercises. This is important for toning your muscles and will also help prevent injuries.

Sounds reasonable and I sure hope she finds balance.

Oprah Gained Weight - Are You Surprised?

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:45:31 -0800

Oprah has always been very open about her battles with her weight. In 1990 she hit her heaviest at 237, but Bob Greene came to her rescue with The Best Life Diet, and she dropped to 160 by 2006. By 2007, she was fit and healthy and even ran a marathon. This year, she went vegan for a 21-day cleanse.

In the latest issue of O magazine, however, Oprah talks about gaining weight, admitting that she hit the "dreaded 2-0-0." For her height and weight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that puts Oprah in the obese category, since her BMI is 31.8. She's concerned that the extra weight puts her at risk for health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Since she has issues with her thyroid, she had a fear of working out, and she said, "I was so frustrated I started eating whatever I wanted - and that's never good." She also said, "I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, 'How did I let this happen again?'"

As Oprah is always looking to better herself, she's planning to get back in shape in 2009 with her upcoming Best Life Week series beginning Jan. 5.

Oprah's Health Wake Up Call Came from Her Thyroid

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Did you know that millions of women suffer from thyroid conditions? In the most recent issue of O Magazine, Oprah shares the tale of her wild health ride with thyroid issues.

She was plagued first by hyperthyroidism, which sped up her metabolism and prevented sleep. Oprah eventually "blew out" her thyroid and experienced classic symptoms of hypothyroidism: Her metabolism slowed and she felt sluggish and tired.

After discovering the cause of her health problems, Oprah decided this was a wake up call. She was determined, not only to get back in balance, but to highlight this particular women's health issue. According to The Wisdom of Menopause author Dr. Christiane Northrup, 25 percent of perimenopausal and menopausal women experience some kind of issue with their thyroid at some time, and most women don't know the cause of their deteriorating health.

I, for one, hope that with Oprah highlighting this issue that it receives more attention, both in research and educational outreach. You know Oprah knows how to stir things up! You can read much of the article, which explores the "break down to break through" moments of personal health, online at Oprah.com – hopefully it will help you learn to listen to your body.

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Celebrity Marathoners

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Who says you can't be fit and famous? Take this quiz and see if you know what celebrity has run a marathon.

Thanks to Compete Running Network!

Take the quiz

Women and Running

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:00:00 -0700

In 1988, the San Francisco Marathon was canceled due to lack of interest. This year things were decidedly different. On the 29th of July, 6,500 people ran 26.2 miles around SF and 8,500 ran half marathons, with a portion of both races crossing the Golden Gate bridge. I would say interest is not lacking. Running is back, and one of the main reasons is that more and more women are running and running in races. In fact, in the SF marathon 50% of the runners were women. I am woman, watch me run!

Running has bounced back, and one reason is that training for marathons is no longer considered a full time job. Most marathoners only run about 40 miles per week, which sounds like a lot to me, but in the 80s the average marathoner put in 80 plus miles. Women often belong to running groups, so training time doubles as social time and running in races doubles as girls' weekend away time. We are the more social sex they say. Running officials think that Oprah's participation in a marathon in the mid 90s was a pivotal moment for the average woman's attitude on endurance races. Non-athletes could participate, and finish times didn't need to be under 4 hours.

How about you? Planning a marathon weekend away with your BFF?

Words That Move You...

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Sometimes all it takes is one good quote that will inspire you to get moving...

"Another thing I know for sure now is that you’ve got to ask yourself, What kind of life do you want and how close are you to living it? You cannot ever live the life of your dreams without coming face to face with the truth. Every unwanted pound creates another layer of lies. It’s only when you peel back those layers that you will be set free: Free to work out, free to eat responsibly, free to live the life you want and deserve to live. Tell the truth and you’ll learn to eat to satisfy your physical hunger and stop burying your hopes and dreams beneath layers of fat."

- Excerpt from The Best Life Diet by Oprah Winfrey

The Best Life Diet on Oprah

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 10:00:00 -0800

Bob Greene has been helping celebrities get healthy and now he's sharing his tips and diet plan with the rest of the world - lucky us.

It's called The Best Life Diet.

Oprah Winfrey raves about this 4 phase program. After all, it's how she lost all of her weight and continues to keep it off and I think she looks amazing.

Phase 1: Truth, Commitment, and Self-Control - it's about getting in touch with yourself, and figuring out why you've gained weight in the first place since this will help you lose it.

Phase 2: Rev Up Your Metabolism by doing the following:

For the first month:

Eliminate alcohol for now.
Focus on exercising a little.
Drink Water.
Add a vitamin Supplement.
Eat 3 meals a day and 2 snacks.
Stop eating 2 hours before bedtime.

Want to hear the rest? Then read more

Phase 3: Get Real About Emotional Eating - understand why you emotionally eat and work towards eliminating it. In this phase, you increase your exercise and water intake.

Phase 4: Secure a Life of Health and Emotional Well-Being - Add strength training to your exercise routine. Cut fats from your diet and limit sugars and bad carbs. Prepare yourself for an active lifestyle that will last the rest of your life.

In the beginning phase of the diet, you want to watch out for these foods:

No white bread - replace with a whole grain alternative.
Replace regular pasta with a whole wheat version.
No more soda.
No trans fat.
No fried foods.
Ditch high fat dairy products like whole milk and ice cream.

Towards the end, you can re-introduce foods that you love, but in moderation of course.

If you want, you can sign up on-line, but I have to say, I tried and it seemed like a lot of work. Plus, the 1st 10 days are free, but after that, it's about $4 a week to be a member and receive the tips, exercise and meal plans, plus recipes.

I'd get the book for $15.60 and use that as my guide. This plan sounds doable and healthy - not like other diets where you're really restricting your favorite foods. It sounds like it will work for the long term too.

Speak Up: Do You Agree With Meghan McCain About Women's Weight?

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Her dad's presidential bid is over, but blogger and aspiring pundit Meghan McCain is still speaking her mind, and this time, it's got nothing to do with politics. McCain recently wrote a piece for The Daily Beast criticizing the never-ending criticism of women's bodies in the media. She wonders why, after all the progress women have made in the past few decades, is women's weight still a "socially acceptable prejudice"?

McCain, who wears an 8 or a 10, was prompted to write the piece after talk-radio host Laura Ingraham made fun of McCain's "plus-size" body. The senator's daughter used the opportunity to question why women's weight is even part of the political and cultural discussion:

Everyone from Jessica Simpson to Tyra Banks, Oprah Winfrey, and Hillary Clinton has fallen victim to this type of image-oriented bullying. . . . After Kelly Clarkson’s recent appearance on American Idol, the first commentary I read on the Internet was about her weight gain instead of her singing.

What do you think of McCain's point? Do you agree that women's weight is one of the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice? Or do you think she is overreacting? Should we keep healthy weight in the forefront of our dialogue?

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