That's Fit

Celebrity moms Cate Blanchett and Halle Berry are out and about and looking amazing. Halle dished up the details on what she's doing to get her body back, but Cate, as usual, hasn't really made mention. Cate looked like she was right back to her pre-baby svelte figure this week at the Cannes Film Festival, and it's only been four weeks since she gave birth to her newest son. Do you think it's natural that her body bounced back so quickly, or does it have more to do with the pressure a 39-year-old actress faces in Hollywood?

Valerie Bertinelli, who dropped weight last year alongside Kirstie Alley with Jenny Craig, is working hard to maintain the slim figure she achieved, but she's not complaining about it. She's continuing to follow the good habits that helped her lose weight, which means no snacking in front of the television and making sure she gets in 10,000 steps each day. With her healthy new figure came another bonus -- a rediscovery of her love of being in the water. Valerie has gotten back into watersports, like surfing. It's great to see her maintaining her weight and living a healthful life!

Sarah Ferguson admits that she continues to have negative body image issues on a daily basis, saying, "I think I'm fat, ugly, and disgusting -- that I'm unworthy and nobody likes me." The formal royal has an interesting way of dealing with these problems -- after her daily morning workout, she takes an ice bath and feels "invigorated" for the rest of the day. Hey, whatever works, right?

White whole wheat. That's seems like a contradiction in terms. White breads and white rice are created by refining the grains -- a process which strips away the bran and the germ, leaving only the endosperm of the grain behind. So how can bread be both white and whole grain?

The difference is in the type of grain used. Most whole-wheat breads are created using red wheat which is darker in color and has a stronger taste. White whole-wheat bread uses an albino variety of grain, allowing for lighter color and a sweeter taste. Some manufacturers do process the grain additionally so the bread has a texture similar to traditional white breads.

But buyer beware. Packaging claims regarding whole grain can be quite confusing. Some of the catch phrases that lead you to believe a product is whole grain include made with whole grain, multi-grain, and seven-grain. Claims like this do not indicate whether a product is truly whole grain. Your best bet is to check the list of ingredients to see if a whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. You can also look for the Whole Grains Council seal.

Did you know that whole grains can help you maintain a healthy weight? Despite all their other health benefits, they have a higher level of satiety and don't cause blood sugar spikes like refined grains can. Learn more about weight loss at AOL Body.

If we continue at the rate we're going, the entire U.S. population will be obese in 50 years. That's what a recent University of Missouri study suggests, anyway. Even if it doesn't turn out to be completely true, it's easy to see how it can still end up being quite close.

What can we do about it? Best I can tell, the only solution is to shape up. Through diet and regular exercise, the obesity epidemic can become a thing of the past, rather than an inevitable part of our future. With that little pep talk over, I feel obliged to now offer up a quick health tip. OK ... here goes.

Random Health Tip of the Day: add water to your cereal. Well, you don't have to add it directly to your cereal; drink a glass of water while you eat it. Men's Health magazine states that doing so will help slow the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream, thereby preventing hunger-causing blood sugar spikes. In addition, the water will help make the fiber in the cereal expand, which will also help you feel fuller longer.

Halle Berry was seen this weekend at the Revlon Run/Walk for Women in Los Angeles (possibly with an engagement ring on her all-important finger), and let me tell you -- she looked fantastic. And the fact that she gave birth to her daughter, Nahla Ariela, just about a month ago makes her fabulous body just that much more amazing.

New moms in the real world shouldn't hold themselves to Halle's standards -- I mean, she had a ridiculously amazing figure before the baby. However, she dished about her post-pregnancy fitness routine to People, and I've got the scoop for you!

She's been working out five days a week for an hour with her trainer, Ramona Braganza. She implements three cardio segments using the elliptical, stairs, and kickboxing, as well as some strength-training that works her abs and legs.

For many people, when they change their eating habits in an effort to lose weight, their menu becomes a little limited. When you're used to cooking with butter and covering everything in cream sauces, your recipe box can become a little useless. But healthy eating certainly doesn't have to be boring and your options are limitless.

AOL Body's America Takes It Off program has been in full swing for a couple of weeks now. Have you decided to take the challenge? If you're hard at work trying to shed a few pounds before summer, don't limit yourself to the same old foods over and over. America Takes It Off has pulled together a great collection of healthy recipes that will tempt your taste buds and keep you on the right diet track.

Losing weight, then gaining it back, losing it again, and gaining it back ... it's a vicious cycle that can really do a number on your body. Yo-yo dieting isn't good for your physical health -- or your emotional health. You can put a stop to the yo-yo madness once and for all. The key is understanding why it happens in the first place. Here are just a few of the ideas from AOL Body:

• You underestimate the power of sugar. High-sugar foods like refined carbs make your blood sugar spike and trigger a release of hormones that can make you feel more hungry and crave certain foods.
• You lie to yourself. You tell yourself that one indulgence won't hurt. And it won't! The problem starts when one indulgence turns into two, three, four, five, or more.
  
• You think in days. If you slip and allow yourself a treat or miss your exercise session you think "well, today's a bust ... I'll start again tomorrow." Don't let one slip mess up an entire day.

Be sure to check out the AOL Body slideshow to learn more about yo-yo dieting.

Have you ever heard a guy say that he needs to shed a few pounds, make some tiny changes in his lifestyle, and -- BOOM! -- he's at his goal weight? I know that's how it is for my dad. He'll state he wants to lose weight, drop desserts for a week, and all of a sudden he's down five pounds. Quite frankly, it's annoying. Granted, this is a bit of a stereotype -- not all men can lose weight easily. Differences in body chemistry, lifestyle habits, and other health factors can make it difficult for some men to lose weight. But, as a general rule, most men can lose weight more easily than women. Why is that?

Men have a larger muscle mass which helps them burn 30% more calories. Women have the added disadvantages of extra body fat and a predisposition to store fat. Also, many women retain water at least one week each month. There are other reasons men might have an easier time with weight loss, too.

Why do so many brides stomp tiny villages full of overpriced caterers, poorly organized photographers, and implacable future in-laws? What is it that causes these so-called bridezilla moments? Well, I'm sure stress plays a major role. But a good point is made in the most recent issue of Women's Health, pointing to hunger as the possible cause of all this pre-wedding rage.

In preparation for their big day, many brides go to great lengths to look their best. In doing so, they try a myriad of methods to drop some pounds. The journal Appetite recently published a survey study on the weight-loss behaviors of brides-to-be, which basically breaks down like this ...

The following percentage reflects the amount of survey respondents who have tried the weight-loss methods to look their best in their wedding dress:

• Drinking water: 89%
• Aerobic exercise: 85%
• Switching to lower-calorie foods: 80%
• Exercising with weights: 70%
• Eating diet foods: 43%
• Switching to diet drinks: 39%
• Skipping meals: 23%
• Taking unprescribed diet pills: 22%
• Buying a dress smaller than their current size: 14%
• Joining a weight-loss program: 13%
• Fasting for a day or more: 4%

On average, how much weight do most women hope to lose by their wedding day? 21 pounds.

If you're busting your tail in the gym, but the pounds keep sticking around, you're probably wondering why. If you're eating as healthy as you can, but your bulging waistline serves as no indication of your effort, you're probably wondering why. And if you're doing both of these things and more, you're probably ready to punch a hole in the wall and scream at the top of your lungs: "Why am I not losing any freakin' weight?!!!"

Okay ... calm down. Everything is going to be just fine, I promise. Tell you what, why don't you take a second to let your blood at least reduce from a boil to a simmer and then we'll start to deconstruct your approach and, as best, we can come up with a solution. To help us in this endeavor, we'll refer to a recent article published in the current issue of Maximum Fitness magazine, which is aptly titled 6 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight.

For the next six days, I'll offer one of the tips in the order that they appear in the Maximum Fitness magazine article. So, you can either wait to read them day by day or, if you don't have that kind of patience, you can run out to the bookstore and pick up a copy of the magazine. Your call. Either way, we're going to get to the bottom of all this and find out what's keeping the numbers on your scale from getting any lower.

Possible Reason #6: Your Exercise Program is Imbalanced. To maximize results from your weight loss and fitness efforts, it's best to follow a program that covers all the bases. Resistance training is a great way to build lean muscle and reduce fat, but it may not be enough by itself to produce the results you're looking for. Therefore, be sure to also include regular cardio sessions and spend some time stretching as well. The same logic applies for doing cardio by itself; you will drop pounds, but not as fast as you would if you also weight train. The solution? Take a moment to reevaluate your workout. Be sure to include both resistance training and cardio sessions throughout the week. And, if you opt to do them both in the same day, perform your weight training first and then finish with your cardio.

Well, that concludes this six-post series. I hope it was some help. For more diet and fitness tips to help you kick-start your weight loss, join us for AOL Body's America Takes It Off!

Sometimes even the best-laid plans go wrong. If you're trying to lose weight and you expect to never falter and never get off track, well ... you're fooling yourself. It's a rare person indeed who can change his or her activity and eating habits and never slip a little bit from their new ways.

Many people who are trying to lose weight succumb to "all or nothing" thinking. As in "I screwed up on my diet this morning, so I might as well just quit."

Occasional slips are just a part of weight loss. Heck, they're a part of life. You may have a slice of cake at a birthday party. You may cave in to a second helping of your yummy dinner. You may skip your fitness routine for a day. And you know what? That's OK. The trick is to not let one little slip become a big slide. One small piece of cake isn't going to negate all of the other efforts you've made toward weight loss. One skipped day of exercise isn't going to throw off your whole routine. Just be sure to get right back on the wagon and keep moving forward. AOL Body has some tips to help you stick to your diet no matter what, including how to regroup after relapse.

If you're busting your tail in the gym, but the pounds keep sticking around, you're probably wondering why. If you're eating as healthy as you can, but your bulging waistline serves as no indication of your effort, you're probably wondering why. And if you're doing both of these things and more, you're probably ready to punch a hole in the wall and scream at the top of your lungs: "Why am I not losing any freakin' weight?!!!"

Okay ... calm down. Everything is going to be just fine, I promise. Tell you what, why don't you take a second to let your blood at least reduce from a boil to a simmer and then we'll start to deconstruct your approach and, as best, we can come up with a solution. To help us in this endeavor, we'll refer to a recent article published in the current issue of Maximum Fitness magazine, which is aptly titled 6 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight.

For the next six days, I'll offer one of the tips in the order that they appear in the Maximum Fitness magazine article. So, you can either wait to read them day by day or, if you don't have that kind of patience, you can run out to the bookstore and pick up a copy of the magazine. Your call. Either way, we're going to get to the bottom of all this and find out what's keeping the numbers on your scale from getting any lower.

Possible Reason #5: You're Eating Too Many Foods That Make Your Body More Acidic. According to the Max Fit article, when your body is more acidic, it retains more water and congests tissue, ultimately leading you to look and feel bloated. Since your body strives to remain alkaline (which it is able to do when you consume plenty of fruits and vegetables, for most types of produce are also alkaline) eating foods that tend to to be more acidic (such as those high in protein and/or fat, as well as foods high in simple sugar and/or chemicals) put the body in a more inflammatory, acidic state. The solution? No brainer here: Keep acidic protein, fat, and simple sugar consumption under control and, as best you can, fill you diet with alkaline fruits and vegetables.

If you're busting your tail in the gym, but the pounds keep sticking around, you're probably wondering why. If you're eating as healthy as you can, but your bulging waistline serves as no indication of your effort, you're probably wondering why. And if you're doing both of these things and more, you're probably ready to punch a hole in the wall and scream at the top of your lungs: "Why am I not losing any freakin' weight?!!!"

Okay ... calm down. Everything is going to be just fine, I promise. Tell you what, why don't you take a second to let your blood at least reduce from a boil to a simmer and then we'll start to deconstruct your approach and, as best we can, come up with a solution. To help us in this endeavor, we'll refer to a recent article published in the current issue of Maximum Fitness magazine, which is aptly titled "6 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight."

For the next six days, I'll offer one of the tips in the order that they appear in the Maximum Fitness magazine article. So, you can either wait to read them day by day or, if you don't have that kind of patience, you can run out to the bookstore and pick up a copy of the magazine. Your call. Either way, we're going to get to the bottom of all this and find out what's keeping the numbers on your scale from getting any lower.

Possible Reason #4: You're Not Chewing Thoroughly. I can't be alone and not even considering this one. Just the same, it turns out that this is an extremely common problem with regard to proper digestion. According to the Max Fit article, not chewing properly can lead to food reactions, which -- as we learned from Reason #2 -- can result in the accumulation of false fats. What's more, chewing slower and more thoroughly will give your brain time to catch up with your stomach. Remember, it takes close to 20 minutes for your brain to receive the signal from your stomach that you're satiated. The solution? Pretty much what was just suggested; take your time while eating by chewing your food thoroughly, as it is in the teeth and saliva where the first stage of digestion takes place.

For more ways on how to kick-start your weight loss, join us for AOL Body's America Takes It Off!

If you're busting your tail in the gym, but the pounds keep sticking around, you're probably wondering why. If you're eating as healthy as you can, but your bulging waistline serves as no indication of your effort, you're probably wondering why. And if you're doing both of these things and more, you're probably ready to punch a hole in the wall and scream at the top of your lungs: "Why am I not losing any freakin' weight?!!!"

Okay ... calm down. Everything is going to be just fine, I promise. Tell you what, why don't you take a second to let your blood at least reduce from a boil to a simmer and then we'll start to deconstruct your approach and, as best we can, come up with a solution. To help us in this endeavor, we'll refer to a recent article published in the current issue of Maximum Fitness magazine, which is aptly titled "6 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight."

For the next six days, I'll offer one of the tips in the order that they appear in the Maximum Fitness magazine article. So, you can either wait to read them day by day or, if you don't have that kind of patience, you can run out to the bookstore and pick up a copy of the magazine. Your call. Either way, we're going to get to the bottom of all this and find out what's keeping the numbers on your scale from getting any lower.

Possible Reason #3: You're Eating Too Many Foods in One Sitting. There's nothing wrong with a little variety, but try not to turn each meal into a smorgasbord. Doing so, according to the folks at Max Fit, puts stress on the digestive tract and to the poor utilization of food. What's more, it can also lead to a build up of false fat, and -- with respect to your total body health -- it may also result in inflammation. The solution? As you probably expected, keep your meals pretty straightforward most of the time. Stick to those that contain a high nutrient-to-calorie ratio, such as vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

For more scoop on how to kick-start your weight loss, join us for AOL BOdy's America Takes It Off!

If you're busting your tail in the gym, but the pounds keep sticking around, you're probably wondering why. If you're eating as healthy as you can, but your bulging waistline serves as no indication of your effort, you're probably wondering why. And if you're doing both of these things and more, you're probably ready to punch a hole in the wall and scream at the top of your lungs: "Why am I not losing any freakin' weight?!!!"

Okay ... calm down. Everything is going to be just fine, I promise. Tell you what, why don't you take a second to let your blood at least reduce from a boil to a simmer and then we'll start to deconstruct your approach and, as best, we can come up with a solution. To help us in this endeavor, we'll refer to a recent article published in the current issue of Maximum Fitness magazine, which is aptly titled 6 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight.

For the next six days, I'll offer one of the tips in the order that they appear in the Maximum Fitness magazine article. So, you can either wait to read them day by day or, if you don't have that kind of patience, you can run out to the bookstore and pick up a copy of the magazine. Your call. Either way, we're going to get to the bottom of all this and find out what's keeping the numbers on your scale from getting any lower.

Possible Reason #2: You're Eating Reactive Foods That Cause "False Fat" What the hell is false fat? Good question. More or less, this is what people typically refer to as water weight, and it causes you to look bloated and actually weigh more. According to the Max Fit article, one way some people collect this extra "false fat" is food reactions, such as those from wheat, dairy, and sugar. Evidently, this can also occur from having poor or improper digestion and eating the same foods too often. The solution? Max Fit suggests avoiding foods to which you have a known reaction, thus helping to clear out this water-based false fat.

For more scoop on how to kick-start your weight loss, join AOL Body for America Takes It Off!