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Samantha Clowe never wanted to be a 'fat bride,' and now, sadly, she won't be one at all. The obese 34-year-old, who was looking forward to her upcoming nuptials, died after an intense crash diet. Described as "fit and healthy" by her family, Clowe lost 42 pounds in 11 weeks on the controversial Lighter Life Diet, which restricts dieters to just 500 calories a day.

We're all aware that crash diets aren't great for you, but you can die from them? You bet -- and this isn't even the first time this diet has killed someone. Just last December, a mother of five died after drinking 4 liters of water, as was recommended by the program. Amazingly, you need your doctor's consent to sign up for the program. Is anyone else having a hard time believing that a trained medical professional would give the OK for this kind of extreme diet?

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our That's Fit 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. Hi Fitz. I'm getting married in late June, and I still have about 10 more pounds to lose. I feel good, but not great! You always say to avoid diets, so what can I do? Can't wait to hear it. Emily

A. You've been paying good attention, Emily, and I'm honored to be able to help you look and feel your best on one of the most special days of your life. I normally poo-poo attempts at quick weight loss -- reunions, holiday parties and cruises just don't qualify for "diet-like" behavior for me. Weddings are different though, and fortunately, I can help you lose the weight without hunger, stress or frustration before you walk down the aisle.

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It's wedding season, and the most popular style in bridal fashion is the sleeveless gown. The secret to looking great while walking down that aisle is a set of strong sexy shoulders. Hey! We can probably agree that all brides are beautiful. But we could also agree that fit brides are spectacular. If your wedding is in the works or you simply want to sport some slinky tanks during the summer, then check out this video. You'll find a variety of simple shoulder exercises that are easy to remember.

For more innovative training videos, visit Fitzness.com.

To find the training equipment used in this video, visit Power-Systems.com.

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You know, even though celebrities can afford the best trainers and chefs, top equipment, and fabulously fresh food, staying fit isn't all fun and games. Keeping track of what your favorite stars do to stay in shape isn't easy, either -- and that's why we do a round-up each week of what the healthiest, fittest stars are doing.

Just click on the picture of your favorite stars above to see what he or she has been up to lately!

High School Musical star KayCee Stroh was married on January 9. And rumor has it she was a pretty buff bride.

KaCee made a wise wedding move and hired a trainer. The result: "My body mass has changed and, for the first time, my arms are strong," she says.

Looks like KaCee should be writing a thank you note to her trainer, who had her doing weight training and cardio workouts (she did the elliptical and stair climber three times a week) and is clearly the giver of the gift of fitness. Now that's a wedding gift you just can't beat. Let's just hope she doesn't decide to return it anytime soon.

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Fergie is going to be a gorgeous bride, and ain't nothin' gonna get in her way. She and her fine fiance, Josh Duhamel, have finally set a wedding date (January 10!) and to get in shape, she's been working out Every. Single. Day.

Remember, Fergie had to gain 13 pounds for a movie role toward the end of last year, and then, just as it was time to start working off the weight, Thanksgiving reared it's calorie-laden head. Still, she stayed focused, and showed off her hard work at a New Year's Eve concert in Vegas.

So how'd she take off the extra padding? Says the star: "A lot of hiking and doing a bunch of sit-ups, working my butt off and just, you know, try to maintain and stay healthy." This time of year a lot of us will probably be trying to follow her Fergalicious example, whether we have a wedding to get all sexy for or not. If you need a little help, keep checking in with us here at That's Fit, and be sure to get involved with America Takes It Off!

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Most of the time, when we think of a boot camp, we imagine a really tough fitness routine run by someone with a face only a mother can love and a voice that causes nightmares. However, if you (or a friend) are getting married, there's a different kind of boot camp for you.

The Gaylord Palms Hotel in Kissimmee, Florida, offers a gentle bridal/bachelorette boot camp, where the bride and her friends can spend a weekend relieving stress by working out and getting pampered.

Sure, you could just do a crazy girls' night out, and while the tequila shots and appletinis will probably make you forget about your stress while you're there, they won't do much for you in the long run. Check out the gallery to see what kinds of cool things the Gaylord Palms Boot Camp for Brides offers.

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Are wedding bells in your future? June is the most popular month for weddings, so this year's June brides are probably scrambling to make sure they're as fit as possible for their big day. After all, who doesn't want to look absolutely gorgeous on their wedding day?

Just because your goals are hinged on one big day, there's no call to diet unhealthily. Exercise and eat healthfully, aiming to lose 1-2 pounds per week. Crash diets don't work in the the long-term and they can rob you of energy. You want to be energized and ready to dance the night away on your wedding day so don't make unhealthy choices. In addition, regular exercise and good nutrition can help you deal with the stress of planning your wedding. While you can't lose weight in any certain area, you can focus on toning and strengthening. For example, if you're wearing a strapless gown you may want to add extra exercises for shoulders and upper arms.

As you gear up for the big day, ask your fiance or a bridesmaid to join you in your new fitness routine. It can be just one more fun pre-wedding event.

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Those of you who have been in a wedding--in any part--know that there is a lot of pressure associated with 'the big day.' With the astounding amount of time and money that goes into a wedding, it's not surprising that brides-to-be are going to another extreme to have their perfect wedding--namely, they're starving themselves to look their best.

It's called Brideorexia, and according to this article from Newsweek, it affects an alarming number of women. Consider these statistics from a recent study of engaged women:

• 20% were closely monitoring their weight to make sure they didn't gain an ounce (which is understandable because when you spend that much on a dress, you want it to fit. But;)
• 70% were trying to lose 20 pounds or more before the wedding
• 20% engaged in 'extreme' dieting behaviour, such as skipping meals, going on liquid diets and using laxatives.
  

That's not all--A small percentage of the women started smoking to lose weight, and some went as far as to purge after meals. Want to know more? Click here.

The bottom line? It's one day, and it's not worth jeopardizing your health for.

(Via Aisledash)

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Some brides are saying "no thanks" to wedding cakes these days. It's not because of the calories, the sugar, or the fat dripping from these decadent displays. It's the expense that has them ditching tradition.

As the costs of weddings soar, some couples are cutting corners by ditching the real cake and using a replica made of foam. With cakes costing an average of $543, the $100 foam knock-off becomes quite a steal.

Trade the real deal for a fake cake, and no one will even know a switch has been made. The fake cake looks completely authentic and even has a special compartment tucked in the back for hiding that special first piece. After the bride and groom take their tastes, the cake gets whisked away and guests are served something less pricey.

What's your take on the fake cake?

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