That's Fit

We told you back in December that PEOPLE magazine's 2007 Sexiest Man Alive would plump up for a role in the upcoming thriller The Informant. Sure enough, six months later, Matt Damon is, yes, plump.

Damon estimates that he's put on 20 to 30 pounds -- not to look fat, really, but to look "doughy," he says. Mission accomplished.

How did the Oscar-winner pack on the pounds? Well, he did just what we preach here at That's Fit not to do. He stopped working out and basically ate whatever he wanted.

"I ate a lot of In-N-Out, a lot of burgers, a lot of beer and basically had a great time," he said. A great time it may have been but I bet in no time, this guy will be back in fighting shape, looking more like the photos featured in the gallery below.

More on Damon's expanding waistline in the Bodywatch section of this week's PEOPLE, on newsstands today.

Everyone of course! I recently returned from a fabulous vacation with my family at Walt Disney World in Florida. Our six-day adventure was non-stop fun, and a major highlight of this trip were our days at the Disney water parks. We enjoyed both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon to the max and would love to go back every sunny day of the year.

I had a little sad moment though as I chatted with a father of two little ones in the kiddie section of Blizzard Beach. We were commenting on what a challenge it was to keep perfect track of our children in such a busy, water-filled place. The poor guy told me he was alone with his children, because his wife didn't feel like she could go out in public in her swimsuit. He didn't want the kids to miss out on the water fun, so he took them himself. She stayed back at their resort.

It made me amazingly sad to think that this woman felt so uncomfortable in her skin that she couldn't even enjoy a beautiful day with her family at a ridiculously perfect place. I know we all feel self conscious at times (including me). And even as my profession is to educate and inspire others to be more fit ... I wouldn't want anyone to place their life on hold because of their body shape or size. That woman is a really special part of her family, and I imagine they missed her very much.

This is just a teaser -- a more complete story will be on newsstands on Friday -- but PEOPLE magazine online reveals that Heather Locklear is currently seeking treatment for anxiety and depression at an Arizona facility.

Apparently, Locklear has requested an in-depth evaluation of her medication and is seeking a diagnosis and treatment for her health issues. With boyfriend Jack Wagner by her side, the 46-year-old actress, in my opinion, is making a brave and courageous move. It's up to each of us to lobby for our physical and mental health. It seems this is exactly what Locklear is doing. Good for her. And best wishes for a speedy recovery too.

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

I recently had the opportunity to spend time with Shane "Scooter" Christensen of the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters. Now, when handed the opportunity to pick the brain of a Globetrotter....I had to learn some skills! Cause quite frankly, when it comes to basketball....I have none. Well, I had none until I met Scooter. Now I know how to dunk.

All old people may not be happy, but surveys of Americans taken since 1972 say that more than half of black men and women over the age of 80 are very happy. Older white men and women follow close behind. Young people, on the other hand: Not even close.

Only one-third of 18-year-old white men and 28 percent of white women say they are very happy. Young black Americans are even less happy. And Baby Boomers -- born between 1946 and 1964 -- are the least likely to report being happy.

Between 1972 and 2004, happiness trends went like this:

• General levels of happiness did not grow over the years, even though America became a wealthier country.
  
  

• Differences in happiness by gender, race, and education level lessened as people aged.
  
  
• Happiness increased over time, rising to high levels when people were older -- even for folks facing health problems and the deaths of friends and family.

Why are old people so happy? Maybe because so many of them live social lives -- volunteering, attending religious activities, spending time with neighbors -- or maybe because they're able to successfully compare themselves to others and feel pretty fortunate with what they've got. Or maybe we all just assume old people can't be all that happy, when the reality is much different.

Do you wish to one day be old and happy? Check out this AOL Body resource for a few longevity tips.

Ready for another "I eat everything and don't gain any weight" story? Here's one, by Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker.

"I eat everything," the actress, 43, says. "I'm just an eater. If it's free, I honestly eat everything."

To prove her point, Parker shared with PEOPLE magazine a list of the foods she'd eaten in the 48 hours prior to her diet confession.

"Last night I had steak and some lamb shank," she said. "And I had some roasted chicken and some cassoulet and some profiteroles and some ice cream and some cheesecake."

Another example: On Monday, "I had two different tarts from Once Upon a Tart [in SoHo] and toast and a banana and a cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese," she said. Oh, yeah: "And a glass of fresh orange juice."

While she doesn't gather up many calories from alcohol -- "I'm just simply not really a drinker," she says -- Parker definitely enjoys her food.

So how does she stay so slim and trim? Predisposition probably, says Parker. And Pilates -- although she hasn't worked out in weeks. And running around after her 5-year-old son. Oh, and anxiety too, she says.

For more scoop on what the stars do to stay in shape, check out AOL's Celebrity Diet & Fitness site.

Join me as I search my soul for direction regarding my latest pursuit: A tummy tuck. Will I go through with it? Will I "Tuck It In?" Keep reading. Keep coming back. And you'll find out.

March 30, 2008

I knew when I first starting dreaming of a tummy tuck that I'd need to talk with several people who had already received the procedure. I can't go into anything blindly. I need information, opinions, real-world stories. As soon as I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was scouring the Internet for journals and blogs -- anything that would allow me to peek into the lives of women who did battle with this disease before me. It's no different now. If you've had a tummy tuck, I want to hear about it.

My plastic surgeon's coordinator, a tummy tuck graduate herself, gave me the names and numbers of two former patients. I talked with them yesterday. The offered me some pretty good stuff.

Both said right off the bat that they'd have the surgery again, it's that spectacular and life-changing. There were no complications for these women, one of them 50 years old; the other older than 50. Both are a year out now, wearing pants that actually fit their bodies and not just their tummies. Both overwhelmingly recommended the surgery, despite the few drawbacks.

My new tummy tuck friends both said the first week post-surgery is very tough. There will be pain, they said, and it will be hard to get up and down. One recommended a raised potty seat -- I'm in luck: I have access to one. One of the women advised me to stay ahead of the pain by taking meds before it gets too bad. The other said she only took a pill -- a ¼ of a pill really -- when the pain was too much to take.

Drains, in place for about one week after surgery to allow for drainage of excess fluid, will be cumbersome, say these gals. Since they need to be emptied every three or four hours, it can be quite a task. Sleeping in a recliner was recommended for the first few days. Laughing, coughing, and sneezing will apparently be a chore. Help is a necessity, at least for the first night or two. And I'm likely to be fully functioning after just two weeks. Both of these women were back to full-time work within two weeks.

What these women shared with me is so very valuable. No doctor could have prepared me like those who've been in the trenches. There's just something about the power of people -- people who've been there -- to help prepare us for the journeys we take in life.

For more "been there" health stories, check out Trusera.com, an online network of people sharing health experiences so others can benefit.

NOTE: Abdominoplasty is recommended for those whose skin and muscle cannot recover on their own as a result of significant weight loss, pregnancy, aging, heredity, or prior surgery. It is not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program. For more information about this surgery, click here

I love a good comeback, like the one Allegra Versace is making as she rebounds from the ravages of anorexia. Versace, daughter of fashion icon Donatella and heir to late uncle Gianni's empire, has put on a healthy amount of weight since recently receiving treatment in Los Angeles.

One source, cited in the January 28, 2008 issue of PEOPLE magazine, says the 21-year-old is doing great and remarks that "anorexia is a disease that you never fully recover from, but she is well on her way to a very healthful and bright future."

Appearing at her mother's runway show in Milan on January 13, Versace impressed even those in the modeling industry who revere thinness. They were simply thrilled to see a healthier version of this young woman. I am too.

Ahhh, the gym. It can be a place to unwind and de-stress, all while doing something for your body by getting fit. But it can also be a source of stress in itself if the other patrons are less than pleasant. Most of us don't have the luxury of setting up fancy home gyms, so finding a way to get along with the crowds is essential. And the best way to establish good habits in your fellow gym-goers? Practice good etiquette yourself.

There are a number of rules to follow when going to the gym, both written and unwritten, and they are especially essential during peak hours. So next time you're headed for a workout, don't be that person. Here are some important rules you need to follow in order to be a good workout neighbour:

People magazine is asking readers what motivates them on the diet front? "Are you inspired by Jennifer Aniston's toned arms?" reads People's website. "Are visions of Jessica Biel's abs pushing you on to the next rep? Or are you just hoping to get into a pair of those skinny jeans that Lindsay Lohan loves so much?"

Readers are responding. Here's what some have to say.

"I just want to feel better about myself -- but I'll admit it, looking good in a tank top wouldn't be so bad!"
Francine

"I want to be healthy! I want to walk around absolutely naked and feel fabulous doing it."
Julia

People Magazine's 2007 Sexiest Man Alive Matt Damon has big plans for 2008 when he pushes his body to new limits.

It all starts with trainer Robert Severiano who will help mold Damon into lean, mean proportions for his role in the movie Imperial Life in Emerald City, which begins filming in early 2008. Then Damon will purposely plump up for a part in The Informant. He'll play a heavy-set guy in this film so he plans to stop training midway through the first movie so he's out of shape for the second.

I'm not sure I'd want a job that required regular body morphing. Even though the stars who succumb to this job requirement receive a hefty paycheck in exchange for their yo-yo endeavors, it seems a pretty unhealthy practice. And a difficult one too. I have a hard enough time maintaining one weight all the time. To jump up and down and all around in body weight is more of a challenge than I'm willing to accept. How about you? For a pretty penny, would you allow your weight to bounce around?

Right now you can find almost anybody in the world using the internet, whether it's through paying a high-tech online service or simply "Googling" names and seeing what pops up. But what if, in searching for long lost relatives in particular, there was an enormous online DNA database you could check? Now that would be cool. Creepy, sure. But cool.

Well we're one step closer (practically there, actually) to that possibility with Ancestry.com. You can order a DNA kit, swab yourself, and send it in to their system where they'll check you against all the other DNA in their system. If a match is found they'll notify both parties and if everyone agrees, contact information is exchanged.

Interesting idea, and it's all supposedly private and anonymous, but I'm skeptical to say the least.


Via Book of Joe

Fast food restaurants and snacks like chips and cheese puffs are popular for a reason. In part because -- and let's face it -- most of us think they taste fantastic. But these fatty foods with very little nutritional value are also favored by millions because they're quick, easy and satisfying for people who have too much going on in their lives to sit down to three square meals a day.

Just because you're busy though, doesn't give you an excuse to eat garbage. If you're in a hurry, why not try some of the following snacks that are full of nutrients we all need.

• Nuts, seeds, dried fruit and cereal provide your body with iron, which is essential for supplying oxygen to red blood cells .
• Grab a handful of peanuts, walnuts or sunflower seeds (or use avocado as a sandwich spread) to increase your consumption of heart-healthy folate.
  
• A lot of people think they should stay away from cheese, but the truth is the tasty, quick and simple snack is full of calcium, which is great for strong bones and teeth.
• We all know why fiber is important -- it prevents the risk of some cancers as well as the risk of constipation -- so up your fiber intake by snacking on fruits and veggies or by eating a high-fiber cereal for breakfast (some fiber cereals also taste good when added to a cup of yogurt).

For more information on tasty, low-calorie and-fat alternatives to typical snacks, as well as suggestions for eating healthier at a fast food restaurants, take a look here.

I'm painstakingly shy, and have been throughout my life. The thought of making small talk with strangers is enough to make me hyperventilate into a paper bag, but I do it anyway, because we live in a social world and hiding from it is no way to live. It usually angers a shy person when you tell them to 'get over it', but that really is the only way work against your shyness.

Here are some tips for overcoming social anxiety:

• Instead of focusing on yourself and how uncomfortable you feel, focus on someone else and creating positive interactions with them. And remember that it's not all about you; while you might feel like everyone is watching you and judging you, they're probably not
• Immerse yourself in social situations. Volunteering is a great idea -- you'll see the same people over and over again, and will learn to be comfortable around them
• Look up and make eye contact with people when you pass them on the street or in the hallway

How do you put your social anxiety behind you?