family-related stories
Bring it On - How Competitive Is Your Family?
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| Grounds Crew preps for TTT '09 Photo: Katherine Tweed |
This weekend is the start of the most important athletic event in my calendar year – the Tweed Tennis Tournament, commonly referred to as the TTT. It is a two-day single elimination mixed doubles tournament with a run off for third place, the coveted "winners of the losers" spot. When I confirmed if Uncle Lou and his girlfriend were playing – the answer was simply "We're playing to win." My cousin Laura told me she's just hoping her forehand holds up.
The trash talking doesn't begin Saturday at noon as the early rounds kick off, it goes on all year long – in person and via email. It forces me to get out and practice my terrible serve as soon as the weather is nice enough on the worn courts of New York City. I am not alone.
Banana French Toast
Recipe Rehab with Tanya Zuckerbrot, Nutrition & Supplements
Celebrity dietitian and motivational life coach Tanya Zuckerbrot, author of www.ffactordiet.com and founder of www.skinnyandthecity.com, has helped thousands of people lose weight and keep it off with her program. Her philosophy? Tanya believes you should never sacrifice taste, even when you're eating healthy foods. Send us an email to reciperehab [AT] thatsfit [DOT] com to submit a recipe for a makeover!
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| Recipe may vary from photograph. Photo: juiterimages |
Nothing says brunch like warm, chewy French toast dripping with maple syrup. Although, with a typical serving -- containing over 600 calories and and 36 grams of fat -- it's far from the healthiest option if you are concerned about your families' nutrition. So I set out to tackle this brunch staple and came up with a recipe that's a hit with adults and kids alike.
If your kids are like my kids, they don't want any bread other than white. However, once cooked, any bread looks brown, making this switch much simpler. Swapping white bread for whole wheat bread bumps up the fiber content and helps to keep you feeling full all morning long. Furthermore, by replacing whole eggs and milk with egg whites and skim milk, you're still getting protein and calcium, but with half the calories and fat.
My Banana French Toast has become a regular in my house, with my husband, 6-year-old son and 3-year-old twin daughters. This recipe couldn't be easier and best of all -- it's so delicious, no one realizes how healthy it is!
Tanya's Tip: Don't like bananas? I've made this with strawberries and blueberries, and it was just as delicious!
All In This Together
The Good, The Fat and The Hungry, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
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| Karla Carrington (right) and sister, Dr. Janice Chambers (left) |
A few weeks ago, a reader expressed her excitement over the wonderful content offered here at That's Fit, but she felt that we hadn't stressed enough the significance of family support in the struggle to lose weight. Well, as luck would have it, I have a little story about that. Like to hear it? Here goes:
My older sister Janice is my best friend. I have a younger sister, Willette, and we're very close, but she is not my best friend because I have to pay her back money that I borrow. Janice's loans do not require payback. If Willette reconsiders the whole re-payment thing, her status might be upgraded, but until then, Janice is my best friend. Janice and I vacation together, we talk almost every day, and we even beat up old ladies together for Black Friday discounts. Janice is a woman of few words, and if she says it, she does it. She's one of the few people I look up to and even listen to.
Jessica Alba Cuts White From Her Family's Diet
Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
We all know that Jessica Alba shaped up in no time after giving birth to her daughter, Honor, last summer. However, the sexy star is still working to stay slim, and she's enlisted the help of her family members by putting them on a diet with her.Alba has cut all white out of her diet, and has asked hubby, Cash, and even her mom to do the same -- and it's not restricted to home-cooked meals. Rumor has it that Alba won't let anyone order the foods she's not eating, even when they're out at a restaurant!
OK, there's no disputing that it's far easier to stick to a diet when the rest of your household is dieting along with you -- it's only natural to have more difficulty watching what you eat if your favorite foods are not only around and available, but are being enjoyed by those around you. But asking your family to get on board with your new, stricter eating habits when they're not worried about their weight is a pretty major request to make, right?
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
Gwyneth Paltrow Plans a GOOP Cookbook
Gwyneth Paltrow has been dishing out her healthy living habits in the form of GOOP for a few months now. And, honestly, the thing that's gotten the most press regarding the website and newsletter is the fact that it seems to really bug people. I mean, shoot, even her husband hates it. And, most recently, health writer Mary Kate Hearon publicly slammed Gwynnie's GOOP, saying the A-lister stole the idea from her.But Gwyneth doesn't care. And she's not only going ahead with GOOP, she's coming out with a GOOP cookbook (a GOOPbook?). It will be titled My Father's Daughter and will focus on cooking for the family as an expression of love.
All the recipes have been designed with the entire family in mind, but also, of course with health playing a vital role. Gwyneth mentioned her late father's pancake recipe in particular, saying she was working on making it a bit healthier.
The book is slated for publication in fall 2009, but here's what I want to know -- will you be lining up for your copy?
Obese Parents - How to Help Them
Ask Fitz!, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. 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, Long time reader here. We've got a problem in our family, and it's that my dad is incredibly obese. He has a fairly athletic build, but in recent years became "potbellied." He's the only obese person in his family, and his health is REALLY starting to suffer.
He's having problems with his knees, joints, back, and worst of all -- his attitude. He cannot exercise because he's already so inactive, and every diet he's been on (reluctantly) he's just put the weight back on afterward. Sometimes he does it intentionally, for fun (a la Dunkin Donuts trips ... how awful!)
Peer Pressure - How to Deal When Losing Weight
Five Active Things To Do on Christmas Day
This morning, I encouraged you to start a new tradition with your family -- a healthy one. So instead of chugging egg nog and gossiping about Aunt Rita's new facelift, don your winter coat, hats, mittens and snow boots and head out to the great outdoors. Here are five activities you can do as a family:- Go tobogganing. The going down part? Exhilarating. The going up part? Exhausting. You're sure to work off those extra calories you're planning on eating at Christmas dinner -- or perhaps you've already eaten them.
- Build a snowman. Extra points if you can make it look like someone famous. Though I'm thinking Amy Winehouse might not work, seeing as the hair is bigger than the body.
- Have a snowball fight. Play nice ... or not. It depends on your family dynamics, I guess.
- Make snow angels. Come on, when was the last time you did that?
- Play Wii. OK, the outdoors isn't for everyone. If the whole clan ishappier in front of the TV, so be it -- just make sure you're getting active at the same time.
Have a healthy family tradition of your own? Do share.
Turkey Neck - Avoid it in Your Holiday Photos
If you've got the whole clan assembled for the holidays, chances are you'll be snapping a few shots of the group before, during and after your ginormous Christmas feast. But nobody likes bad photos of themselves -- you know, the ones where you have more chins than a Chinese phone book. You want to eat the turkey -- not look like one. Female First has some tips on making your chin area look as flattering as possible in your holiday snaps, including:
- Tricks of the make-up trade. Some subtle shading around the jawline can make a world of difference.
- A good haircut works wonders too. Accentuate the chin with a bob or long layers.
- Elongate your neck when the photo is being snapped, sit or stand up straight and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
- If you're doing a solo photo, get it taken from slightly above and to one side -- then follow the previous steps.
Got any tips of your own?
Healthy Stocking Stuffer Ideas for the Whole Family
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Reviews & Products
Good things come in small packages, they say. That's especially true when it comes to healthy stocking stuffers. What better gift to give than one that encourages an active, healthy, happy life?Over at Holidash you can find healthy stocking stuffers for women, for men, and even for the kids in your life.
Ho Ho Ho!
Chasing Your Kids - Is it Fitness?
Ask a celebrity mom how she stays fit and she'll usually demur, "Oh, I just chase my kids around all day." Insert eye-roll. Unless you've got the metabolism of a mouse, keeping your kids busy isn't going to whittle that waist down to the celebrity-standard size double zero. Either they aren't eating, or they're being less than honest.
But for the rest of us -- those who aim to be physically fit but a little more on the average side -- can chasing your kids all day count as fitness? I think so ... that playground equipment can be surprisingly adaptive to an adult workout, after all.
During this week's Walking the Walk experiment, I aim to find out exactly how much of a workout I can get chasing my kids around all day.
Broomball - The Duggar Family's Solution for Economic Exercise
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
What is broomball you ask? That's the same question I had to ask when I first read the article. Broomball is somewhat similar to ice hockey, but the equipment is quite a bit different. Instead of a hockey stick, players use a "broom" -- a stick with a rubber-coated broom-shaped tip. Instead of a puck, players maneuver a blue or orange ball around the ice rink. And instead of skates, players wear special shoes with rubber soles.
I haven't played broomball, but it sounds like a lot of fun. Plus, if the Duggar's younger kids can manage it, it's obviously a great activity for the whole family.
Ward off Holiday Diet Saboteurs
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
You've fortified your weight loss goals this holiday season with a solid plan, extra workouts, and a dash of willpower. But one thing you don't want to underestimate this month are the holiday diet saboteurs, well-meaning loved ones who can wreck your weight loss in a ho-ho-ho-hurry.
Luckily, Laura knows how to stop them, so pop on over to Holidash and see what she has to say.
You Told Us ... What You Love Most About Thanksgiving
Ah, Thanksgiving. Isn't it a great day? I hope yours was fantastic. Last week, prior to the big day, I asked you what you loved most about Turkey Day. Here's what you had to say:
- 31 percent of you -- the majority -- just love Thanksgiving, and everything about it. I'm with you guys on this one.
- 17 percent of you are crazy about the food.
- 17 percent love the time with friends and family the most.
- 14 percent of you love having the day off work.
- 11 percent of you don't like anything about Thanksgiving. Bah Humbug!
Thanks for sharing your feelings towards Thanksgiving -- it's good to know I'm not alone in my love for this day. Be sure to vote in other Your Turn polls and stay tuned for more results!
Jamie Oliver - economic slump can lead to unhealthy eating
Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
When Oliver was first zeroing in on school lunches and teaching cafeteria workers to prepare fresher, more nutritious meals, he didn't just encounter resistance from kids. In one South Yorkshire town, cameras caught parents of school children shoving burgers and fries at their kids through the school's fence. So now Oliver is working in that town and trying to teach families how to eat healthfully on a tight budget.
Oliver makes a good point: Historically, when money was tight, people had to become more resourceful -- growing their own produce, using cheaper cuts of meat, and so forth. Now, however, people have the option of buying $0.79 boxes of macaroni and cheese or value meals at fast food joints. Have you seen that recent commercial for KFC? The one that challenges people to buy the ingredients for a bucket of chicken for less than they'll sell it to you? That's just the point the Oliver is making -- when convenience and cost pair together, some people will let nutrition slide.
If you're trying to lower your grocery costs, try these tips for eating healthfully on a budget.
