Shape-related stories
Shape's Bikini Body Tour Has Begun!
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
You'd better bet your booty that it's time to break out that bikini, and chances are, you still have a little work to do before you feel comfortable strutting your stuff in that bathing suit. In fact, according to SHAPE magazine, four out of five women aren't satisfied with their bodies, and so SHAPE is offering the SHAPE Bikini Body Tour to help sculpt you in time for beach season.The magazine is touring the country and hitting two of the hottest beaches to provide women with a chance to take part in 40 classes, games and prizes. One of the sexiest bikini models around is lending her name (and her body) to the effort, too -- Victoria's Secret supermodel Marisa Miller was at the first stop of the tour last weekend in Santa Monica, California, and she is on the cover of SHAPE's June issue, hitting stands May 25.
The next stop of the tour occurs in Miami's South Beach on Saturday, June 13. Preregistration is simple and only costs $10. Considering you could take part in a really cool class and have the opportunity to win fab prizes (like a free trip to one of two Beaches resorts), it sounds like a pretty good bargain to us.
Jaime Pressly Shows Off Her Perfect Post-Baby Abs
Months after having her son, Jaime Pressly attributed much of her weight loss to the Cabbage Soup Diet. A year later, the My Name is Earl actress gave most of the credit for her awesome body to chasing her active son, Dezi James, around. Now, Pressly is on the cover of Shape magazine's March issue and there's no denying that a rocking body like Pressly's comes from anything other than old-fashioned exercise and good nutrition. Pressly says she focused on a healthy diet and did both cardio and strength training.
Her healthy habits helped her shed the 42 pounds she gained during pregnancy. (She gave birth to her son in May 2007.) Pressly said, "Sure, I wanted to lose my baby weight, but I didn't want to lose my butt! I think it's sexy when women have shapely bodies."
What else does Pressly love about her body? "Lately I love my stomach," says Pressly, "After growing a human being inside me, there is nothing more incredible or sexy!"
Angela Kinsey - The Office Star is Not in Shape
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Looks can be deceiving, says The Office girl Angela Kinsey. The star, who wowed onlookers at her first after-baby awards show last spring, may look in shape. But really, she is not.
"Here's the thing; I'm not in shape," says the 37-year-old actress. "There's not as much of it, but none of it is toned." As for losing the weight that is anything but firm, she compares breastfeeding baby Isabel Ruby (now eight months old) to running a marathon. Of course, she does. All actresses do. Apparently, nursing just sucks it out of you. The Office pal Jenna Fischer works out all the time. But not Angela. All she does is pump, and she's good to go.
So maybe I'm just bitter about the whole breastfeeding-causes-rapid-weight-loss thing. It just isn't fair and so I assume it can't be real. But readers say it works. Eighty-nine of you responded to a recent poll asking if breastfeeding can make you skinny. Eighteen percent said it totally worked for you. And 13 percent said you've seen it happen. A bunch of readers are with me -- 23 percent said it's just not that easy. Then 22 percent said "who knows" and 11 percent said "who cares." Maybe I shouldn't care either. So it took me years (and a tummy tuck) to return to my former pre-baby self. I should just be happy with the path my body took. Yea, but I'm not. Bitter.Here's To You and a Healthier 2009

Welcome to the last day of 2008. Is it just me or did this year whiz by at lightening speed? Besides breaking out a new calendar, you know what December 31st means -- breaking out some new resolutions. Last week, I was wondering what your healthy resolutions for 2009 will be, and here's what you had to say:
- 29 percent of you want to lose weight. We've heard this one before.
- 25 percent want to get in shape.
- 18 percent want to adopt more healthy habits in general.
- 6 percent want to take more time for themselves.
- And 13 percent say "All of the above!"
Whatever your resolution may be, do what you can to ensure that it doesn't wind up on your list next year, OK?
Michael Phelps - Out of Shape Since Beijing
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Fourteen gold medals, and the guy is taking a break and losing his shape. OK, let's humor him.
"I'm out of shape right now," the 23-year-old Phelps told Stephen Colbert on Thursday's Colbert Report. He also says he's eating a lot (he likes Eggs Norfolk with crab meat and a sour-cream quesadilla for breakfast), and he's still shoveling in about 8,000 and 10,000 calories a day. Yet, he can still lose five to 10 pounds a week (not fair!), and his weight registers at only 205. He says he's never weighed more than 200, but really, a five-pound weight gain? The guy is clearly doing something right. Come January, he'll be doing even more -- this is when the superstar swimmer says he'll begin training for the 2012 London Olympics.
Biniki - The Butt Bra
Now I've officially heard it all. If you wish you had a perfect butt, look no further. All you need is the Biniki to wrap it, strap it and tie it up. The Biniki promises to lift and define the curve of your butt as well as smoothe out your thighs.I've got nothing against undergarments that are designed to hide flaws and maximize body shape. If control top hose are good enough for Eva Longoria, they're good enough for me. But something about the butt bra just strikes me as really strange ... not to mention uncomfortable.
Of course, you could just go the tried and true route (and avoid wearing straps around your rear) and work your butt into perfect shape.
Sports-Related Injury? When You Should See a Doctor
Professional and elite athletes rely on sports-med doctors to stay in the game. They don't wait for an injury to become so bad that they can't play -- they can't. Their jobs depend on it.The rest of us might not be so quick to see a doctor when we feel a little pain -- we tend to rely on RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), often focusing on the "rest" part more than anything else. And that might be totally fine, but some injuries require attention from someone whose medical credentials don't rely solely on their love of Grey's Anatomy.
Shape magazine has some great tips on how to treat some injuries at home as well as information on what kinds of injuries might require further medical attention. There's even a list of some of the most commonly treated injuries as well as suggestions for avoiding these injuries in the first place.
Eat right for your body type
Are you a chili pepper, an apple, or a pear? Everyone has a different body type -- there are the long, lean, narrow-all-over "chili peppers," the round-in-the-middle apples, or the bigger-on-the-bottom pears (the most common body type, by the way). Fitness magazine tells you how to eat best for your body type.Chili pepper. Chili peppers have a straight and narrow shape without much delineation between their waists, hips, and shoulders. When a chili pepper gains weight, it tends to go to the middle -- beware: Belly fat increases the risk for heart disease and other health conditions. The best diet for a chili pepper incorporates healthy fats such as olive oil, fish, and nuts as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables. Strength training can help build muscle and create more curves.
Apple. Apples tend to carry weight around their middles, but the lower body is leaner. Apples are more prone to having high blood sugar, so a diet with healthy fats and minimal carbs is recommended. When you do choose carbs, make sure they're fiber-rich options -- like whole grains, fruits, and veggies.
Pear. Pears tend to be heaviest in the hips, thighs, and butt. To shed those stubborn pounds, choose a diet that's lower in fat and rich in complex carbohydrates.
Read the full article at Fitness magazine for more details about each body type and learn why different nutrition choices, meal plans, and workout routines are recommended.
Are you eating the lunch you need?
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
We're constantly beaten over the head with the phrase, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Now, Shape magazine is telling us that lunch is also one of the most important meals. What does that make dinner, chopped liver? Ew! I hope not!Actually, the article gives some good advice, suggesting you have a good snack an hour before a midday workout and then a lunch made up of veggies and lean protein afterward. And, they give pointers on grazing throughout the day, for those who don't have a chance to eat a real meal at lunch.
However, the part I really responded to was the recommendation on the right lunch when you know you're going to splurge on dinner and drinks. I've always opted for a light lunch, but Shape says that approach will just lead you to binge once you arrive at the restaurant. They recommend having a light soup and half a sandwich, eating the other half an hour or so before you leave for your dinner.
Jeans and tees a perfect fit for all bodies
You don't have to be a size 2 to look hot. Regardless of body shape, jeans and tees that fit snuggly -- just not tightly -- can flatter anyone, says Makeover Momma, who cautions that these items should be in perfect condition for just the right fashion statement -- ratty or sloppy is just not in vogue, says this wise Momma.Want to rock the jean and tee style, like Calista Flockhart to the right? Momma says do these two things: Find jeans that fit your body flawlessly -- they should hit mid-stomach, not too snug over the hips and thighs, with the right amount of stretch or flare -- and no matter your size, track down a crisp, higher-end tee that hits at the hip. You don't want it skin tight, though, and not too short either. Forgo the logos too. You want a clean, no frills appeal.
Need to dress things up? Ditch the athletic shoes and ball cap and pair with feminine and casual heels and accessories like colorful earrings and a clutch.
Sneak Peak at Gwyneth Paltrow's workout
We're used to seeing Gwyneth Paltrow looking elegant and sleek on the red carpet. But the Oscar-winning actress recently revealed another look: Red-faced and dripping with sweat in a skin-tight leotard. Amid rumors that she's going to release a workout DVD, the 35-year-old star recently appeared on Oprah and shared with viewers the kind of intense workout she used to shed the 20 lbs of baby weight she gained with her last child, Moses.
I didn't see the show, but judging from these photos, she had to work really hard to get back into shape. Paltrow admits to working out for two hours a day, six days a week. As for her eating habits, she's mentioned that she doesn't diet, but she does try to eat healthy. Says the actress: "Once I started exercising I was doing cardio and I felt like I had to get rid of stuff, I started recommitting to eating well because when I was pregnant I was eating donuts."
Her hard work has obviously paid off. What do you think?
What Britney eats these days
What did you think of Britney's VMA performance this past week? She looks much better than last year's performance, anyway. And I guess it's no wonder when she's spending $22,000 on a makeover. But it hasn't all been easy for the pop princess -- she has been eating well and working hard to get her body back into shape. She recently told OK Magazine how she got back into shape:
- Her Diet: "I have no sugar. I don't eat fruit or even fruit juice because of the sugar. I eat chicken and salmon and rice. I eat avocados. I'll have egg whites for breakfast and sometimes turkey burgers for lunch. I try to do just 1,200 calories a day ... It may sound like it's not much, but it's actually a lot of food if you eat the right things."
- Her Workout: Britney does "A lot of cardio and weights." She works out five days a week -- Monday through Friday.
Keep it up, Britney!
Kim Kardashian gets butt in gear for DWTS
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Kim Kardashian has vowed to eat better -- she loves junk food -- but she just can't seem to shake her bad eating habits. Even boyfriend Reggie Bush has been pushing her to take better care of her famous body. What will it take for Kardashian to get her butt in gear? Training for Dancing with the Stars, that's what.Kardashian is already in rigorous rehearsals for the show, and she hopes it's going to do her prized "booty" some good. She wants to firm it up, shape it up, tone it up. And she wants to sport the sexy thing in dance costumes that show a little skin. The better shape she's in, the more risqué her attire will get. Her first outfit is not so crazy -- it's just a ball gown, elegant and a little bit more covered up -- but it shouldn't be long before she's baring more and more. She's dancing eight hours a day with pro partner Mark Ballas and already, she's noticing changes in her figure.
Stay tuned. Dancing with the Stars premieres live on ABC at September 22 at 8 PM.
Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered -- Feeling out of shape?
Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Stress Reduction, Womens Health, HealthWatch, Ask Fitz!, Cellulite, Obesity, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hey Fitz, My name is Sarah and I'm almost 16. I have always been involved with sports including: hockey, basketball, soccer and you name it! Now that I am older, I have slowed down a bit and only play basketball for high school and travel. This is what is bothering me: I can't seem to run as long as I used to. I get tired easily and run out of breath. I'm not fat or anything, and I am even really fast. But by the time I run one length of the court I'm pretty much dead. What am I doing wrong and what do I need to do to change this? It seems like I get more out of breathe each season. Thanks, Sarah
A. Hi Sarah, Thanks for writing. I have two thoughts on what may be happening with you, the first being more probable than the last. Most likely, you've just become out of shape. That doesn't mean you're obese or in horrible shape, it just may mean you're not capable of doing as much as you were two years ago when you were involved in three sports! You take pride in the fact that you run fast. That's great! But, the fact that you like to go all out probably makes you more likely to suck wind at the end of one lap.
Does your loved one dig your diet -- or not?
A study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that when people change their eating habits, spouses and partners often experience skepticism, guilt over their own unhealthy habits, even anger. We're creatures of habit. When one person alters the routine, it can throw things off balance. SHAPE magazine offers these three tips for easing the transition.
Prepare your loved one for changes Share your plans a few days in advance and communicate your reasons for making adjustments.






















