PEOPLE-related stories
Melissa Joan Hart Loses Baby Weight, Feels "Amazing"
Melissa Joan Hart graces the cover of PEOPLE magazine this week in a bikini showing off a leaner, stronger physique than her beach body last year. The former "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" star was "horrified" by beach pictures that circled the Internet last summer, which bloggers were quick to attack. Like many people, seeing photos of herself in a bathing suit was a wake-up call that she needed to focus on fitness.
The weight was left over after giving birth to her sons Mason, 3, and 14-month-old Braydon. Melissa is honest about the fact that it took hard work and more than a year to go from 155 pounds down to her current weight of 113. "It didn't happen by magic – it was as hard for me as it would be for anyone else," she tells PEOPLE.
She was inspired by her mother as well as her friend and fellow actress Jaime Pressly who slimmed down quickly after giving birth. "I realized I didn't have to be heavy just because I have kids."
Melissa's story is not unique, but a reminder that even with young kids at home it is important to find the time to take care of yourself and your body. "I feel amazing!" she says. "I had to prove to myself that I could do it. I had to give it a go!"
See how other famous moms shed the post-baby pounds in the gallery below.
How Celeb Moms Slim Down
By Jennifer Fields,Vicki Salemi and Christina Parrella
Voted FHM's Sexiest Woman in the World in 2007, Jessica Alba admitted in an interview with Cosmopolitan UK that during her pregnancy she's never felt less sexy and couldn't wait to lose all her baby weight. Jessica gained 25 pounds while pregnant and said she craved all food in general but told Fit Pregnancy that she had a sudden desire for citrus based foods like lemonade and oranges.
Ginsburg-Spaly, X17online.com
How did Jessica Alba manage to look so slim shortly after giving birth to her daughter Honor Marie? "I wore a girdle," the star confessed in a recent issue of Elle. "Eight weeks after my girlfriend had her baby, you could see her six-pack. She told me to put an elastic band around my waist -- any kind of band or girdle works."
The actress did, however, have to hit the gym to shape up to shoot Club Campari's annual calendar. "[The workouts] were horrible," she told the magazine.
It was reported in People that Jessica shed the baby weight on celebrity trainer Ramona Braganza's 321 Baby Bulge Be Gone plan. On it, Jessica opted for a low-fat, low-carb diet and worked out with her trainer six days a week.
Gregg DeGuire, WireImage.com
During her pregnancy with twins Dolly and Charlie, Rebecca Romijn told Page Six Magazine, "I can't move anymore...I'm a beached whale!" According to her husband, Jerry O'Connell, the supermodel and "Ugly Betty" star reportedly craved "a lot of ice cream."
Revolutionpix/INF Photo
Just one month after giving birth, Romijn was spotted looking svelte while out and about in Calabasas, Calif. wearing a form-fitting top and yoga pants.
Brogmus / INF
While pregnant with son Bronx, Ashlee Simpson-Wetz took to her blog to make it clear she wasn't worried about putting on a few pregnancy pounds: "Carrying a child is the most inspiring, emotional, amazing experience of my life. My weight and my pants size are the absolute last thing I am concerned about. I am only concerned with having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby."
Bauer-Griffin
In an effort to shed the 30 pounds she gained while pregnant with Bronx, it's been reported that Simpson-Wentz has turned to Jackie Keller's 30-day Body After Baby plan, which incorporates "mommy and me" workouts. Ashlee's also using Keller's meal delivery service, called Nutrifit.
Bruce Gifford, FilmMagic / Getty Images
British beauty Kate Winslet is said to have felt she was the size of a bus after gaining 55 pounds during her pregnancy.
Gareth Gay, Alpha/Globe Photos
In order to shed the pounds Kate gained prior to delivering daughter Mia, the five-time Oscar nominee relied on the popular British facial analysis diet, which prescribes a meal plan based on an individual's complexion and facial features.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
The always-stunning Halle Berry was constantly aglow during her pregnancy. Part of the reason could have been the fitness routine she maintained throughout that included yoga and swimming.
X17online.com
Just six weeks after giving birth to a baby girl, Berry flaunted her voluptuous post-partum figure -- the result of hour-long sessions with celeb trainer trainer Ramona Braganza in which she used the elliptical and stair climbing machines and did kickboxing.
Toby Canham, Getty Images
Valerie Bertinelli Rocks a String Bikini
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Talk about inspiration! Valerie Bertinelli, one of the most recent spokespeople for Jenny Craig, is one heck of a success story. She looks positively amazing, and is showing off her sleek new physique on the cover of "People" magazine by wearing a little bitty bikini.The actress, who will be turning 49 next month, had trouble sleeping the night before the big bikini photo shoot, thinking, "Am I really going to do this? Can I pull this off?" But then, she pulled herself together and decided there was nothing to be afraid of -- "It's just a bathing suit!"
Just two years ago, Bertinelli weighed in at 172, and at 5'4", that was more than 40 pounds heavier than she wanted to be. Nine months after she started Jenny Craig, she was down to 132 pounds.
Hottest Celebs Over 40
By AOL Health Editors
Lisa Rinna
Rinna turned heads and stole the headlines for posing for the May 2009 "Playboy" cover at age 45. In an interview with That's Fit, she explains how she stays in shape after having kids. While she's always been a fan of exercise, being on "Dancing With the Stars" has changed her entire workout philosophy. "Dance is such an overall workout...that also makes you really, really happy... what's more fun than dancing?"
PLAYBOY Magazine
Demi Moore
If you were a 46-year-old toting around 31-year-old arm candy, you might worry about looking young, or at least try to look your best. But we hear that this actress is willing to drop more than six figures a year to sustain her fit figure -- covering the cost of personal trainers, equipment and Pilates classes, among other things.
Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images
Valerie Bertinelli
After shedding 50 pounds, 48-year-old Bertinelli graced the cover of "People" magazine, clad in a bikini -- for the first time in 20 years. This former teen star and current Jenny Craig spokeswoman ditched the excess weight by cutting calories, running five days a week and doing strength-training exercises with her personal trainer.
Jean-Paul Aussenard, WireImage
Kathy Ireland
This 46-year-old former "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit model and current CEO, author and mother, recently had a wake-up call that she was carrying some extra weight, from her son of all people. After he told her she looked pregnant, she stepped on the scales to find she'd gained 25 pounds. A friend, who's a personal trainer and nutritionist, helped her plan healthier meals, cut back on snacks and sweets and incorporate three exercise sessions a week. As a result she's lost nearly all of the added pounds.
Jonathan Exley / Kathy Ireland Worldwide
Sheryl Crow
This Grammy winner is nearly as famous for her albums as she is for her show-stopping body. When the 46-year-old recently stepped out on the red carpet looking more toned and fit than ever, she shared that her incredible figure was the result of a regimen of yoga, Pilates and P90X workouts.
The sweat-inducing system, created by trainer Tony Horton, is made up of 12 different workouts designed to create "muscle confusion" by introducing new moves to beat boredom and avoid plateaus. There's also a three-phase diet plan that focuses on lean protein, complex carbs and limiting fat.
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Courteney Cox Arquette
Our favorite 'Friend' and soulless tabloid journalist has only gotten better looking with age. Cox Arquette's secret weapon for those cut arms and toned legs? Tennis and Budokon, an intense workout integrating yoga, martial arts and meditation. Cox Arquette has also been said to use the Blood Type Diet.
Starface, Retna
Kim Cattrall
Our pick for sexiest of the "Sex and the City" pack is also the oldest. And at 51, we think Kim Cattrall looks even more fabulous now than she did when the show first debuted. Cattrall has said that exercise is crucial for her and that without it she feels sluggish. When she can't make it to the gym for a 30-minute workout, she likes to walk.
MAP/Splash News
Daniel Craig
How does hottie Daniel Craig get Bond buff? It's no surprise that there's a lot of weight lifting in his fitness routine. Craig has said that a routine centered around weights was the only way to bulk up in the short time he had to prepare for "Casino Royale." But for his next Bond venture, the 40-year-old stunning star is mixing up his heavy lifting routine with boxing and running.
Splash News
Madonna
Madonna may be single-handedly responsible for helping yoga and Pilates go mainstream. With her enviable arms and taut abs, her body is a walking advertisement for the two fitness disciplines which she has long practiced. Her high water intake (three liters a day) and strict diet that bans processed foods, alcohol, caffeine and dairy also helps keep the 49-year-old slim. But we're sure the two-hour sessions of dancing and hitting the Hybrid Body Reformer (a pulley-system machine) that she does six times a week don't hurt.
Dave Hogan, Getty Images
Jamie Foxx
The Jamie Foxx workout doesn't involve exclusive gyms or personal trainers. He keeps it simple. Every morning he does four sets of pushups, situps and crunches. But not all at once, mind you. He breaks up the workout with chores. A set of pushups. Brush teeth. One set of ab exercises. Take a shower. And so on. That way, he doesn't have to make time for exercise, it's just part of his morning routine.
Chris Gordon, WireImage.com
Humans for Weights - The Next Big Thing in Fitness?
Forget fancy dumbells and barbells -- all you need to get a good workout is an exercise buddy ... or, better yet, a few exercise buddies who come in a range of shapes and sizes. Or, you could just head over to Gymbox in London, where the weights are your workout buddies. That's right, they've replaced traditional weights with humans in a variety of sizes.
Depending on your level of fitness, you can bench press 'Dainty Diva' Arti Shah, who weighs just 66 lbs, or do a lateral pull-down with 'Super Human' Matt Barnard providing, 340 lbs of resistance. All in all, there are five people to choose from, so you can take your pick.
Sounds weird, huh? Gymbox owner Richard Hilton doesn't think so --he believes that being able to visualize the weight you are lifting will help you effectively shape up. In other words, you'll be more motivated to lift a human being than a stack of metal weights, even if it's only for the bragging rights -- just don't mention to your friends that the person you lifted was less than four feet tall.
Cardio and Core Training with Donny Osmond
Celebrity Fitzness Report, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Today I chatted with Donny Osmond. That almost feels silly to say. Not that he's silly, but because he's been a part of my life for about as long as Santa Claus has. Fortunately, I like him even more now than I did a few hours ago. Donny has spent his entire career in the spotlight, and at 51 years of age, he looks just about as great as he ever has.
He's performing in Vegas right now and hosting a new show on ABC called Rediscovered, airing December 22 at 9 PM ET, which sounds pretty fun. Rediscovered gives adults who unsuccessfully auditioned to be a Mouseketeer 20 years ago a second chance at stardom and a $50,000 prize. Donny and Marie were sold on the concept and are enjoying the opportunity to see these "regular people" shine on stage. Read on to learn more about the show, how Donny stays fit, and whether or not he's going to take his shot at Dancing With the Stars!
Fitz: So you're back on prime-time television. What drew you to Rediscovered?
Donny: Marie and I just loved the concept. It's been amazing to see these regular people dragged out of their normal lives and put back on the stage. The show is fun, the audiences have been really receptive and the contestants have proven to be terrific.
Fitz: Since the contestants haven't been performing for a living, are any of them disastrously horrible?
_thumbnail.jpg "Donny dreams of chocolate covered edamame!")
How'd Hugh Jackman Get So Sexy?
We Love To Gawk At Fit Celebs, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Hugh Jackman was just named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine, and with good reason. According to his Australia co-star, Nicole Kidman, "Women's jaws drop when Hugh walks into a room."
Jackman didn't always look like the uber-hottie he is now -- in fact, when he was a kid, his legs were so skinny that his nickname was Sticks. Maybe that's part of the motivation behind his wicked hard workouts.While preparing for his role as Wolverine in X-Men: The Last Stand, Jackman was able to bench 315 pounds and leg press 1,000 pounds, and it showed on his 6'2" frame. He's still incredibly muscular, but has also become more flexible, which is important since he does most of his own stunts. In fact, he trained daily doing yoga for a full year in order to hold the lotus pose long enough for a certain scene in The Fountain.
Matt Damon not so sexy in '08
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
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.
Who is entitled to have fun in the sun?
Healthy Habits, Healthy Places, Healthy Relationships, Natural Products, Stress Reduction, Vitamins and Supplements, Womens Health, HealthWatch, Healthy Kids, Cellulite, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
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.
Heather Locklear treated for anxiety, depression
Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation
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.
Celebrity Fitzness Report: Slam Dunking with Globetrotter Scooter Christensen
Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Celebrity Fitzness Report, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
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.
Old people are happy
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation
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.
Sarah Jessica Parker eats everything
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
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.
Tuck It In: The power of people
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements
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
Allegra Versace recovering from anorexia
Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
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.
Fit Factor: Brush up on your gym etiquette
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:
What gets you on the ball?
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Readers are responding. Here's what some have to say.
Helene
What motivates you? Tell us in the comment section or tell the folks at People here.