The 27-year-old reality star's exercise DVDs have been on sale for months now, but we just landed an exclusive, behind-the-scenes interview with the fitness pro who actually choreographed the DVDs and hung out with Kim Kardashian on-set during filming of the best-selling series. Jennifer Galardi, a dancer, trainer and creator of nearly two dozen exercise videos had lots to dish about:

That's Fit: We all want to know Kim's absolute favorite lower-body moves, the ones she does at home and the ones she mastered on the set.

Jennifer Galardi: Kim loves backward lunges and the balancing "T" where she would lift one leg, balance on the other and lower her body until it was in a "T" formation. Some of her favorite body-sculpting moves are also the most popular in many other videos and in fitness classes across the country, the lunge and the traditional squat.

Photo: Lifetime

Recently, I caught a couple of episodes of Lifetime's new show "Drop Dead Diva." It's about a young, gorgeous, self-centered aspiring model (Deb) who dies in an accident, but comes back in a different body (Jane). A bigger, smarter, kinder (but still totally gorgeous) body. And so, as the Web site says, "Now, by a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane's plus-size frame and learn to reconcile her beauty queen ways with her brilliant new mind."

Now, I'm not plus-size, but I'm probably closer to that than I am to that elusive size 2 that many actresses wear, so I immediately feel the need to give props to Lifetime for creating a show that features a lady who doesn't wear sample sizes. And the show is cute, fun and mostly lighthearted -- not a bad way to spend part of an evening.

However, although I know it's not the intent of the show, by showing the brilliant, plus-size attorney next to her thin, blonde, ditzy best friend, it almost makes it seem like you have to choose one or the other -- would you rather be thin or smart? And we all know that's not the truth. "Drop Dead Diva" is definitely showing that having the brains is a far better bet, although having the looks makes plenty of things in life much, much easier.

Photo: Christine Gaugler/Diane Meacham

Putting a new twist on sound weight-loss advice, UK-based fashion and beauty journalist Mimi Spencer's new book, "101 Things to Do Before You Diet," introduces new ways to think about body image and achieving the look you want. Some is fashion-based wisdom, such as the "10-pounds lighter print," which Spencer says, "will carve off weight simply by tricking the eye." Some is research-based, such as the one tip she'd pick of the 101, which is to advise women who "give a great deal of thought to the number of calories in a sandwich, but have little idea about how their body demands, absorbs and utilizes those calories" to understand their hormones and learn to maximize their weight-loss potential.

That's Fit: How much of your personal experience was the inspiration for "101 Things to Do Before You Diet"?

Mimi Spencer: So much! After I had my kids, I ended up with the kind of body I didn't really love anymore -- a softer belly, heavier thighs -- and a bathroom scale that could make me weep. I tried all kinds of diet fads (I remember the maple syrup diet was big at the time, but I also tried to combine diets, drink cabbage soup, and of course, do Atkins and GI like everyone else). But not a lot changed. I was the same size and doubly unhappy.

So I started to think about all of the things that affect weight -- not just calories-in (though those are important), but also things like psychology, hormones, sleep patterns and habits. I also knew from my years in fashion journalism that there are hundreds of ways to appear slimmer, simply by knowing the tricks of how to dress thin. What it came to was a 360-degree view of a woman and her life, not just a narrow "don't eat!" message.

In a world where so many Hollywood starlets cave in to the insurmountable pressure to be thin, it's nice when someone young, impressionable and promising goes against the grain. Take Harry Potter's Emma Watson, for instance. The pretty and talented actress recently admitted that she doesn't think thin is beautiful, saying "I don't think it's very pretty to be really, really skinny. It's not inspirational at all for me."

Still, it's easy for her to say -- she's 18 and naturally slim, after all. "I'm lucky and I'm this size naturally," she concedes, adding, "I don't diet and I don't aspire to be super skinny. I just don't think it's very pretty. Even if I wanted to be that skinny, I love food and I love cooking and I love sitting down and having nice meals, so it just wouldn't be possible for me."

Good for her -- now let's hope that a slowing metabolism in 10 years time doesn't change her healthy body image.

Source

It's hard to imagine Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger feeling awkward or self-conscious about her body. But behind many sexy, voluptuous women, there's a shy youth with low self-esteem -- and that certainly rings true in Scherzinger's case. She was recently quoted saying, "We always say that inside every woman there is a Pussycat Doll, but I don't always know that about myself. I always grew up feeling awkward because I came from a town where not everybody looked like me."

What helped her feel good about herself? The very thing that catapulted her to fame: Performing. "I found myself in something that I was passionate about, which was singing, and dancing. I focused on that. I put my heart, and soul into it," she said.

Addressing the other awkward-feeling girls of the world, she adds, "You are beautiful. Just find it from within, and so you can then shine your beauty on to other people."

Source

Here at That's Fit, we're constantly telling you what we think about things, but sometimes it's nice to know what you think. So from time to time, we'll ask you a question. Don't be afraid to speak up -- we love feedback.

A little while ago, when I asked if you would change something about your body if given the chance, the answer was a resounding YES. Not no, or even maybe -- just yes. But how does one go about changing his or her body? A fairy godmother is one option. Good, old-fashioned hard work (read: diet and exercise) is another, more viable one, but even that involves a lot of effort for a very slow pay off. The other option, of course, is surgery. It's risky, painful and involves a difficult recovery, but it's fast and usually effective.

So this time around, I'm asking ...

Over at Fit Celeb, they're talking about Hills star Heidi Montag. Apparently, Ms. Montag feels a lot more confident about her figure since having a boob job a few years ago. If that's what she needed to feel good about herself, then good for her, I guess. What about you?

Source

Kate Beckinsale, the pretty and petite star of films like Serendipity and Pearl Harbor, is gracing the cover of this month's UK addition of Elle. But we're more interested in what's inside the magazine -- the 35-year-old actress is opening up about size, healthy habits and body image in an industry where appearance is all that matters.

Here are some of the highlights:

• On Body Image: "I'm amazed that people obsess over my body image so much. Why do we encourage this war on women's bodies? It's a horrendous way to live, and I refuse to. I'm entirely normal. I have my good days and my bad days. I am a lot more body confident now I'm in my thirties, and am in better shape, too."
• On Diet: "Now my typical daily diet is eggs or oatmeal for breakfast, a chicken or vegetable wrap for lunch, then fish and vegetables for dinner. But if someone turns up with cupcakes mid-afternoon, I'll have one. I'm not aiming to be Gisele. And I'd hate to be one of those people who won't allow themselves a slice of birthday cake."
• On Fitness: "I just can't make it part of my daily life. I go to the gym when I have to, and if I have to bulk up or slim down for a film, I will. I've recently got back into exercising four times a week. I run for half an hour at a time but never outdoors as I don't exercise in public. My gym's in my garage at home."

Source

"Good Lord," I said to my friend as we perused racks of clothing in the mall. "This wouldn't fit my right thigh, let alone my hips. Who is buying these? Thirteen-year-old boys?" That small exchange sums up my feelings towards size zero and its frightening successor, size 00 or double zero. Unless you're less than five feet tall and genetically petite, is it ever healthy to be a size zero? If not, then why are the people who model clothing that slim? Isn't that sending exactly the wrong message to the masses?

That's why I was intrigued by this article titles The Death of Size Zero from the Times UK.

Source

Overweight women are having more sex than women of a normal weight. Are you surprised?

Researchers who conducted the study are surprised. "These results were unexpected and we don't really know why this is the case," said one of the study's authors.

What's really unexpected here, I think, is their reaction. Have those persuasive media images that tell us what's "beautiful" influenced even people who should be above such things?

Source

Body image is a touchy subject, and we want to know where you stand on yours. So in the past, we asked you what you like about your body. Then we asked what you don't like about your body. And I'm glad we did -- the results were pretty interesting. Here's what you had to say:

• 52% of you -- that's right, more than half of you -- don't like your midsection. I'm with you -- a bulging belly is the pits.
  
• 18% of you aren't crazy about your legs, be it a case of cankles or American thighs.
  
• 10% of you dislike your butt.
• 6% don't like your hair or skin.
• And finally, it pains me to write this but 5% of you dislike everything about yourself. However, 2% of you love everything -- good for you.
  

Thanks for sharing -- now go get those abs in shape, and be sure to vote in other Your Turn polls.

We think That's Fit is fabulous, of course, but the truth is, there are hundreds of wonderful blogs all over the blogosphere that deal with healthy living. In this Fit Links feature, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye this week.

The folks at ParentDish are talking all about the one sandwich most kids love: Grilled cheese. Got any healthy recipes for this cheese-on-bread favorite? Share your ideas here.

This Slashfood blogger is eating out less. How about you? Might want to think about it -- it's good for the wallet and the waistline.

Ever wonder how celebrities stay so skinny? We do. StyeList may be on to something -- seems some models and actresses are using IV drips to stay stick thin. Disturbing.

Do you consider raking leaves exercise? Click here and tell FitSugar what you think.

October 15 was Love Your Body Day, but wouldn't it be nice if we could love our bodies every day? Diet Blog offers some tips for improving your body image.

Welcome to the Good, the Fat and the Hungry. I'm Karla and I have been -- or am -- all those things. Here, I will share with you my lifelong struggle with my weight and I hope you'll follow along on with my determined attempt to lose nearly 40 pounds. I promise to tell you every win and setback along the way every Tuesday and Friday.

I always thought the S in clothing labels stood for Skinny. The more weight I gained, the more that same S came to mean So-what-if-she-can-wear-that. Now, it stands for Someday.

The M in clothing meant Mediocre -- for the chick who couldn't decide if she wanted to be small or large, so she settled for mediocrity, in between. But that same M in labels now stands for MY size! Oh, how I have enjoyed the downward spiral of my clothing sizes. It has certainly improved the shopping journey. Three years ago, I was a size XXXXXL. That's right, count em, FIVE X's large. Now, I am a medium and there ain't nothing mediocre about ME!

When I began my weight loss journey, I didn't really have a specific size in mind. I just knew my doctors recommended I strive for 160 pounds, based on my height and the size of my frame. I am still a little more than 20 pounds away from that goal, and I'm not sure what size I'll be when I reach it. But it doesn't really matter. I'm focused on the goal itself. The health benefits are not lost on me -- but even they are not my motivating force. I simply look and feel great, and I want to stay this way.

Whether hitting the gym every day or once in a blue moon, there's one thing we all need to do -- love our bodies! You don't have to be completely content with the size of your waist, and maybe you wish your arms were a little more toned, but today, for Love Your Body Day, I want you to take a minute and appreciate what your body does for you.

Your legs and feet take you where you need to go. Do they run? Do they walk well in heels? Can they kick a soccer ball? Your arms lift all kinds of important things -- food and drink to nourish your body, books so you can read, and your children when they need to be held. And, don't forget -- your arms can give great hugs!

To celebrate Love Your Body Day, I have a couple of suggestions. First, do something good for your body -- take a long walk, do some strength training, complete 20 push-ups, whatever works for you. And second, keep reading here at That's Fit, because we'll be telling you all day long what we love about our bodies because we want to inspire you!

Source