FitSugar

Stamp of Approval: Au Bon Pain

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:00:00 PDT

Look, it's not surprise that I am not the biggest fan of fast food restaurants. However, I do know that sometimes you just have to eat there so I am always on the hunt for healthier fast food joints and Au Bon Pain gets my stamp of approval.

Au Bon Pain provides Nutrition Kiosks, which allow guests to plan their meals before ordering them. You can sort the menu by a specific nutritional requirement (high fiber, high protein, low carb, low fat, low calories, etc.). They also launched Kids Nutrition Kiosk in their suburban and hospital locations. The children's version includes interactive games intended to teach the basics of making healthy meal choices. What's more? They've moved to using preservative-free chicken and they've recently introduced a new product line called Portions - a line of 14 dishes made fresh daily, packaged individually and with 200 or less calories per dish. And to bring it home, all products at Au Bon Pain have zero grams trans fat.

So next time you're going for fast food, you may want to think about stopping at Au Bon Pain. They have made every effort to help you become aware of the healthy choices they offer, all you have to do is choose them.

The Best Indoor Workout Classes (Because It's Freezing Outside!)

Self — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:35:01 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

There are lots (and I mean, lots) of reasons why my motivation to work out during the Winter plummets - from the snowy commute to freezing cold winds to the cold, dry air that hits my chest with such force that it becomes hard to breathe. (Ahem, there's a reason I sign up for races that are after September - this born-and-raised Floridian prefers to train outdoors during the Summer.)

But it is possible to sculpt, strengthen, and sweat (majorly sweat) without having to be freezing cold during the winter. So when the weather outside is frightful, head indoors for these top full-body workouts that will help ward off Winter weight:

Indoor cycling: Ruth Zukerman, cofounder of NYC's FlyWheel cycling studio, is heating things up indoors with her 45-minute, heart-racing classes. (Self favorite Jillian Michaels is even a recent investor in the company). "I wanted to be part of the most innovative and effective indoor cycling program, and that is FlyWheel. I am thrilled to join the FlyWheel team," Michaels said in a press release. What makes cycling such an effective alternative is that it's taking the fun full-body workout people love indoors, and instead of scenery, you'll stay motivated to challenge yourself thanks to encouraging instructors and a killer playlist. Flywheel has an awesome on-bike technology board that lets you compete against other riders in the class. Plus if you're looking to shape up before hitting the slopes, "indoor cycling is great preparation for all Winter sports, especially skiing and snowboarding. I know from personal experience that when I hit the slopes I don't tire out easily or suffer from the kind of après-ski muscle pain that most people do, and it's because of indoor cycling," Zukerman says.

Try this move: If you're riding an exercise bike at home or the gym, try some interval training. One thing we often do at Flywheel is a "Sprint Chorus," meaning we increase our RPMs to a sprint during the song's chorus and then revert to a cadence on the beat of the music as the chorus ends.

More best indoor workouts after the break.

Is the HCG Diet Safe?

Leta Shy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:37:42 PST

Have you been convinced by the constant barrage of HCG diet testimonials? The diet has recently become the talk of the Internet, even though it was developed over 60 years ago.

The HCG diet claims this: HCG (or human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone found in pregnant women, is supposedly responsible for releasing stored fat to feed the baby in utero. By restricting your caloric intake while injecting the hormone or taking HCG drops daily (typically for 23 days, but many people stay on the diet until they reach their desired weight), the hormone encourages your body to release its fat stores to keep you nourished - leading to weight loss that can be as high as a pound a day. Sounds good, but is it safe? We spoke with Adam Bornstein, editorial director of LIVESTRONG.com, to learn more about the diet and its safety.

Does It Work?
Judging by the amount of success stories seen on TV or on the Internet, the answer is yes. Many users have said that the HCG diet is not only effective, but sustainable. Guests on a recent Dr. Oz show, for example, said that they lost as much as 50 pounds on the HCG diet. Dr. Oz's guests also explained that the diet was only difficult for the first few days, after which the pounds melted away without the users ever feeling hungry.

Experts, however, aren't so ready to give the diet a stamp of approval. For one, there are no studies addressing whether there are long-term side effects in using the pregnancy hormone, and there are no studies that illustrate if the hormone actually helps your body burn stored fat. "There's no research that can actually back up these claims. It's all hypothetical," Bornstein said. The fact that dieters lose weight quickly can most likely be attributed only the dieter's ability to stick to a strict 500-calorie diet and not the HCG hormone itself.

Read on to learn if going on the HCG diet is safe.

Jessica Simpson Talks Wedding Plans, Weight Gain, and "Styling America" in Lucky

Lauren Turner — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:35:57 PDT

Jessica Simpson was all smiles in a sexy Gryphon New York dress for the cover of Lucky's December issue. She recently announced her pregnancy with a funny Halloween-themed tweet, though at the time of her interview with the magazine Jessica was still keeping the exciting news quiet. Instead, she addressed her "weight gain," talked about her wedding plans with fiancé Eric Johnson, and shared her thoughts on "styling America." Here's more from Jessica in Lucky:

On her weight: "I got so much scrutiny for putting on extra pounds, but I think that the decision not to make myself anorexic was actually great for branding. Because when you’re really, really skinny, not everybody can relate to you. Everybody fluctuates, but I’m open about my weight and I’m still confident. I didn’t cry about it too much."
On meeting Eric and wedding plans: "When I met him I just felt so comfortable with myself and where I was in my life that if he didn’t want to be part of it, he didn’t have to be. I haven’t started shopping for our wedding yet. When I got engaged, everyone thought I would get married immediately, but I have not put a single dress on, and by the time this comes out I will not be married! We’re just enjoying being engaged right now-and that’s honest."
On her brand: "If it has my name on it, I want my stamp of approval to be on it I want to keep my customers coming back. So it’s going to be important to me in these next years to stay focused on the collection. I love that I can dream about paisley, and then two months later, someone’s wearing it. I’m basically styling America."

A Clean-Cut Tom Cruise Hops Into a Classic Car on Set

Lindsay Miller — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:10:00 PDT

A newly shorn Tom Cruise wore a white t-shirt and jeans today as he got into character on his new film One Shot in Pittsburgh. The actor, who was filming a driving scene in a red Chevelle, stars in the big-screen adaptation of the book by the same name. Tom plays an ex-Army cop who is sent to investigate a sniper shooting in the heartland and lopped off his previously lengthy locks to ready for the role. Before getting to work on the action film in Pennsylvania, Tom spent several months down south in Florida, where he was playing a musician in Rock of Ages. Tom let his hair go long while he was busy portraying the tattooed singer. His wife, Katie Holmes, gave his edgier look her stamp of approval at the time. Katie and Suri visited Miami several times to catch up with Tom during the shoot, and the family took advantage of his recent break between projects to hang out at their homes in LA and NYC.

Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson Talk Baby Plans and Body Image in Marie Claire

Lindsay Miller — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:59:00 PDT

Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson showed off their close bond on the cover of Marie Claire's June issue. The actors play frenemies in Something Borrowed, but they formed a great relationship behind the scenes. Kate, who is expecting her second child this Summer, opened up to the magazine about how pregnancy feels different this time around. Kate Hudson is currently in London with her husband-to-be, Matthew Bellamy, and her son, Ryder, and her dad Kurt Russell recently gave the Muse frontman his stamp of approval, saying he's a "wonderful guy." Ginnifer also has a wedding in her near future and shared her excitement about starting a family with her fiancé, Joey Kern. The costars further discussed Hollywood's beauty standards and staying in shape, with Kate chatting candidly about her struggle to shed her baby weight after Ryder's birth. Here are some highlights:

Kate on how pregnancy is different this time around: "I was so sick the first trimester that every time I tried to read, I couldn't concentrate. So I started brainlessly watching TV in the fetal position on my couch. It was brutal. I only just started getting a bigger appetite. I'm eating, but I like healthy foods in this one."
Ginnifer on her wedding plans: "I'm so ready. I want a life full of little Joeys. I'm only holding off until after my wedding for vanity purposes. I just want to be able to fit into whatever dress I pick out."
Kate on losing weight postbaby: "Let me tell you something. It's an emotional roller coaster, having to lose weight. I gained so much - I was 185 pounds at the end. You actually experience how much energy is stored in that and how much emotion you actually hold in that mass. It is emotional, no matter how determined you are. It takes work to bounce back so quickly."
Ginnifer on her natural figure: "I am genetically predisposed to be a bigger girl than I am. If I didn't live in Hollywood, I would be. I have very real hips and a real Southern woman's ass."
Ginnifer on why she still uses Weight Watchers: "I've never had body issues, and I've never had an eating disorder. Most of the people I know are on the program for health reasons. And yes, some of them are slim women who want to stay slim."

Maria Bello on Why She Couldn't Refuse Her New Series, Prime Suspect

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:06:35 PDT

Maria Bello will return to TV this Fall in NBC's new cop procedural Prime Suspect. Based on the British series starring Helen Mirren, Bello plays Jane Timony, a tough-as-nails homicide detective who loves her job and refuses to apologize for it (or her personality). Bello was joined at the TCA with her costars and producers to talk about how the series will differ from the original, and why it was a role she couldn't refuse.

The pilot largely revolves around Jane taking a lot of flack from her male colleagues - to the point where one of her fellow detectives calls her a wh*re. Executive Producer Alexandra Cunningham said this kind of in-your-face sexism won't be par for the course, as "it's 2011; there's no institutionalized sexism," and from here on in we can expect the focus to shift away from that.
Costar Peter Garety commented that one aspect that makes Prime Suspect stand out among other cop shows was the fact that it's centered on a woman, saying, "Most of the cop shows I've done didn't have female detectives. I don't expect this cop show to be like any other cop show I've been on."
As for what separates the show from the UK version, Cunningham said that there will be a lot more humor and it won't harp on alcoholism the way the original did. She also added, "At the end of the day, what we have that no one else has is Maria, and she's so watchable."

To find out what made Bello take on the role, and what Helen Mirren thinks, just

Katie Holmes Travels Lightly While Staying Connected

Katie Henry — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:58:50 PDT

Katie Holmes left an LA studio today with her iPad in hand. The Cruise-Holmes family is settling back into life on the West Coast following bicoastal living for the past two months while Tom shot Rock of Ages on location in Miami. Yesterday it was Katie's turn to be in the spotlight during a high-fashion photo shoot. Her ministylist Suri stopped by to check in on Katie and add her stamp of approval to the wardrobe choices, while Connor Cruise kept the crew entertained by spinning records. Katie's got her fair share of work cut off for her in the back half of the year with Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and Jack and Jill heading to the big screen. Plus the Spring 2012 Fashion Weeks are just around the corner, and she's often present in the front rows to see what her fellow designers are sending down the runways.

Buckingham Palace Drops More Royal Wedding Details

Susannah Chen — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:07:07 PDT

With less than two weeks to go, Buckingham Palace is finalizing details on the royal wedding, including what guests will have to eat and drink. The world already knows what kinds of cake Prince William and Kate Middleton will be cutting into - but what about the rest of the menu?

Following the wedding, 600 guests will head to the palace for a reception where they'll feast on 10,000 some odd canapés, including smoked salmon on beet blinis and quail eggs sprinkled with celery salt. Although the bride and groom will have some say, the majority of the menu will be decided upon by the Queen herself.The bubbly will likely come from Bollinger, the official Champagne of the royal family. That includes the French house's top-of-the-line Vielle Vignes Françaises - given the stamp of approval, as the seal reads, "by appointment of the Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Majesty" - as well as, some speculate, the small-production Grand Année 1999 vintage. And in traditional fashion, the groom will probably make the first toast to thank the bride's family.

Boy, do I wish I were one of those lucky 600 - but I don't envy the 21 chefs who'll be toiling away at 10,000 canapés come April 29. What do you think of the royal menu?

Update: Turns out all the Bollinger speculation was incorrect. It's been confirmed that Prince William and Kate are bucking tradition and serving nonvintage Pol Roger at the wedding!

Is Brass Back?

Julia Walsh — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 05:30:00 PDT

Lately, in the interior design world, there've been rumblings that the unthinkable is happening: brass is back. Is it true? Only time will tell. Though I'd never thought I'd see the day, I have been coveting a few brass items as of late. One in particular is this Brass Urchin Accent ($26), which Jamie Meares of Furbish featured on her blog (and is selling in her shop). A little "urchin super model," as she calls it, I can handle, but mirrors framed in a heavy dose of the dated metal or coffee table bases born of a bounty of brass? I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

In an effort to be a trooper of this possibly new old trend, I've rounded up a few brass - not silver- or gold-plated brass but pure, unadulterated brass - items that do get my stamp of approval. Check them out below.

Thomas O'Brien TRIPOD CANDLESTICK LIBRARY LAMP - $483.00	Estate End Brackets Brass (Set of 2) - Sold Out
Umbra U+ Collection Umbra U+ Collection Canteen Hanging Wall Clock - Sold Out	Arteriors Pagoda Hurricane - Sold Out
Sandy Chapman SMALL SUSSEX FRAMED SCONCE - $336.00	Carl Aubock Razor Blade Paper Weight - Sold Out
D.L. & Co. Skull Snuffer - Sold Out	Bistro Antiqued Brass Round Mirror - Sold Out
Vitra George Nelson Ball Wall Clock in Black - $385.00	Horchow Stationery Box, c. 1890 - Sold Out
Artecnica Ivy Wall Panel Brass - $76.00