jacki-donaldson-related stories
Anthony Ditched Junk Food - And 62 Pounds
Diet & Weight Loss, Success Stories
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| Anthony Riojas: Before |
Age: 20
Height: 6'1"
Before weight: 245
How I gained it: Constant eating of fast food, overeating junk foods and candy and lack of physical exercise. Using food as a method of comfort, I felt the only way to escape my problems was to eat. Constant snacks and junk packed on the pounds faster than I could count them.
Breaking point: My breaking point was senior year of high school when I stepped on the scale and read that I was over 240 pounds. It was disappointing knowing that my father, who was in his early 50s, weighed only about five pounds more than I did. I was distraught to realize how close we were in weight.
The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl - A Success Story and Book Giveaway
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation, Success Stories
Shauna Reid is an Australian writer living in Scotland. Her memoir "The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl" has just been published by Avon and tells the story of how she lost 175 pounds, traveled the world, found romance and learned to be happy in her own skin. People magazine called it, "a buoyant, funny, and immensely likable romp -- for readers of all sizes." Shauna has been blogging about her health and fitness journey since 2001 at www.dietgirl.org. Here is her success story, which includes a book giveaway. Continue reading after the break for details on how to enter.
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| Shauna Reid: Before |
Age: 31
Height: 5'8''
Before weight: 351
How I gained it: I developed an fixation with my weight from an early age by tagging along to my Mum's Weight Watchers meetings -- she was a group leader! I remember being 8 years old and watching the ladies line up for the scale. I realized what you ate and what you weighed was a really big deal, and I grew up very conscious of my body and my eating -- I had a very love/hate relationship with them both. It wasn't until my late teens when I left home that I really started to gain weight. Food became my comfort during some very difficult times. My self-esteem was non-existent, and I was trapped in a cycle of terrible binges and careful dieting. I gained over 100 pounds during my degree. By 23, I'd reached 351 pounds.
Breaking point: Seeing my giant size 26 knickers on the clothesline next to my sister's tiny size 8 ones. Hers were lacy and dainty -- mine were frumpy cotton like my grandmother would wear. These were no knickers for a 23-year-old! I knew that I had to do something about weight and do it right this time.
6 Steps to a Trimmer Tummy
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| Photo: J.C. Rojas, Flickr |
Invest in Intervals. They're the best fat-busting exercise out there.
Strength Train. Work your whole body, and your abs will engage. If they don't, you'll fall over.
Beat the Bloat. Avoid salty and gassy foods and get enough fiber and water, too.
Practice Pilates. Every exhale is a chance to work your abs.
Eat Healthy. Consume a nutritious and low-cal diet to expose a toned belly.
Work on Layering. Build all the muscle layers of your abs -- the stronger they are, the better you'll feel about your mid-section.
Venezuela Bans Coke Zero, Should You?
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| Photo: star5112, Flickr |
Venezuela has banned Coke Zero, claiming it's a health hazard. So what if it has no calories, says Health Minister Jesus Mantilla, who claims Coca-Cola has failed to list on the product the artificial sweetener sodium cyclamate, reportedly responsible for causing cancer and male reproductive problems.
Coca-Cola says Coke Zero is sweetened with a combination of acesulfame-K and aspartame, not sodium cyclamate, which has been banned in the U.S. for 40 years. "In my opinion, the banning of diet sodas can be considered nothing but a good thing," holistic nutritionist Doug DiPasquale says on That's Fit.ca. "The data behind the safety of all artificial sweeteners is questionable at best. Stick with natural, less-processed sweeteners whenever possible."
And in case you need another reason to trade your diet soda for no cost, no calorie water: Artificial sweeteners have also been tied to weight gain. Is water too plain? Here's some ideas to naturally flavor it to help you make the switch.
Sarah Ditched Diet Pills, Started Running
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation, Success Stories
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| Sarah Sullivan (left) with best friend Lauren (right): Before |
Age: 24
Height: 5'4"
Before weight: 183
How I gained it: In high school, I was very active. Once I graduated, I gradually started gaining weight. Instead of the freshman 15, I gained more than 50 pounds over three years. I was a very emotional eater. I would eat because I was unhappy about gaining weight, but then I would be unhappy because I ate. It was an endless cycle.
Breaking point: My last semester in college, I went to Disney World with a friend. It was my first Disney trip, so of course, I took a ton of pictures. Up until this point, I was in denial about my weight. I had managed to avoid all cameras and mirrors, and I wore stretchy pants and t-shirts everywhere. I use to try to joke and say I love stretchy pants because they can grow with you. When I got my pictures back from our trip, I was disgusted. I knew I had to do something. So I tried the easy route -- diet pills. I think I tried just about every diet pill out there and guess what? None of them worked!
Vibram FiveFingers Shoes Give Your Feet a Workout
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| Photo: amazon.com |
Vibram claims this shoe gives you the sensation of being sans-sneakers, while increasing foot strength, to improve balance, agility, speed and range of motion.
FiveFingers was once reserved for sailors and then barefoot runners, but now, the shoe designed to hug all five toes is finding its way into the mainstream market. It's a crossover shoe designed for multiple sports and activities, including ChiRunning, kayaking, windsurfing or just cruising around town -- and while you might be eager to slip your toes into a pair, be prepared for an adjustment period. You could feel a bit of discomfort for the first week or two as your feet transition. And be aware that the jury is still out on whether barefoot is better than shoes. Some skeptics say FiveFingers might adversely affect your arch, ankles, feet, shins, knees, hips and back.
Eager to try out these kicks? You can find FiveFingers at amazon.com or at select retailers -- click here to find one near you.
Fit in Fitness With Stroller Squats
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| Photo: Ed Yourdon. Flickr |
CafeMom recommends adding stroller squats to your fitness line-up -- just buckle up baby and get to work on your core, quads and hamstrings by holding the handlebar (feet shoulder-width apart), bending down and then coming back up. Make sure you feel the burn, stay balanced and do three sets of 10.
For more family fitness inspiration, check out our Fit Family posts.
Firm Up to Lose Back Fat
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Let's talk back fat. There's nothing inherently dangerous about it (like abdominal fat), but it's surely no fun to sport that flab that pops out around your swimsuit and shows through a fitted t-shirt.
Many people are vulnerable to back fat -- it can sneak up as you age, it happens when you gain a little bit of weight and poorly fitted clothing can really accentuate it. All hope is not lost, however, as Prevention magazine tells the TODAY Show. Invest in cardio five times a week to combat the calories you put into your body -- then target, strengthen and sculpt. The four exercises featured in the video above will head you in the right direction, and you could see results in just two to three weeks.
Shop for These 6 Summer Superfoods
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| Photo: [cipher], Flickr |
Blueberries -- they can help banish belly fat.
Cantaloupe -- you really should be doing more with melon.
Raspberries -- one cups provides a third of your daily requirement for fiber.
Red bell pepper -- good for your heart, lungs and eyes, and one cup of raw slices contains only 25 calories.
Spinach -- a super salad staple and great cooked too.
Tomatoes -- eat them four times a week and lower your cholesterol.
Fitsugar says these six are affordable and full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which are some pretty great reasons to start shopping the produce aisle.
Brown Sugar - Is It Better Than White?
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| Photo: nate steiner, Flickr |
Adam Got Fit By Hitting the Gym
Fitness, Motivation, Success Stories
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| Adam Hill: Before |
Age: 30
Height: 5'10"
Before weight: 225
How I gained it: I was overweight from the age of about 9 years old. I lived off of a steady diet of junk food and inactivity. I lost the weight once in my early 20s but soon fell back into old ways and gained it back within a year.
My breaking point: About a year and a half ago, I started to look ahead in my life. I saw myself getting married and having kids, and I realized that I wanted to be able to be there and enjoy these things in good health and to be a good example for them.
Alanis Morissette - From Rock Bottom to Rock Hard
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
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| Photo: Bryan Bedder, Getty Images |
"I'm back to what I was born to be, at my best," Morissette tells the Daily Mail. She found a sustainable diet in Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book "Eat to Live" -- she traded a processed and dairy-heavy diet for a vegan one, full of fruit, vegetables, beans and nuts. The book, which focuses on eating for disease prevention, has the 35-year-old feeling great.
"I used to get out of bed in the morning and things were aching, and I just thought, this is what happens when you get into your 30s." But now she jumps out of bed full of energy. "I feel very alive," she says. "Even after a workout, I feel like if I rest a little bit I could go out dancing all night, so that's exciting."
Besides dancing, which she counts as a workout, Morissette (looking quite fit in these Daily Mail photos) clocks a half hour to an hour of light weights, running, biking and swimming about five times a week. She also kickboxes and plans to run a marathon.
Check out the gallery below to see more celebs who have gained and shed some serious pounds.
Top Celebrity Yo-Yo Dieters
By Gabrielle Linzer and Allison Bond
Photos of a heavy-set Kelly Clarkson taking the stage at KIIS FM's Wango Tango concert this weekend show that she may have backed off of her weight-loss program from earlier this year. In January, Clarkson debuted a slimmer physique in her video for the single, "My Life Would Suck Without You." By working out a few days a week and making diet changes to get in shape for the March 17 release of her new album, Clarkson reportedly lost 20 pounds, according to OK! Magazine. However, noticeable weight gain from a March 11 American Idol performance, coupled with recent concert photos show that Clarkson may have fallen off the wagon.
AP
To squeeze into those famous Daisy Dukes, Jessica Simpson endured two months of dieting and sweat-dripping workouts, according to People. Hitting the gym with trainer Michael Alexander and sticking to a South Beach-style diet paid off--Simpson looked lean and strong for her acting debut. But the once-slender star was recently seen looking noticeably curvier while performing at a chili cookoff in Florida.
Rick Diamond, WireImage.com
Sandra Bullock has admitted that obsessing over junk food drove her to overeat and then compensate for it with crash diets when she was younger. After Bullock wed husband Jesse James in July 2006, she gained again, leading to speculation that she was pregnant. Tired of combating baby-bump rumors, Bullock vowed to escape the frustrating cycle of weight gain and dieting. One thing that helped her was changing her meal staples from pizza and Diet Coke to lean meats and veggies.
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images | Rabbani and Solimene Photography, WireImage.com
Known for his "Gladiator" physique, Russell Crowe is not your average yo-yo dieter. Despite his reputation, Crowe packed on 63 pounds for his upcoming role in Body of Lies, according to "People." Crowe may be accustomed to looking a bit more toned than the flabby CIA veteran he morphs into for the role, but that isn't to say he didn't enjoy earning his paunch. We hear from PopEater that he joked, ""I'll have that cheeseburger for breakfast, thank you!" No word on how Crowe plans on thinning out yet, but if he plans on redeeming his sex-symbol status, he'll need to cut the burgers and pump some iron.
Lucy Nicholson, AFP/Getty Images | Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Early in her career, Jennifer Love Hewitt was known for her curves and slim waist. More recently, however, she filled out due to a lapse in healthy eating and steady exercise, according to iFitandHealthy.com. Overwhelmed with "photographers taking invasive pictures from bad angles," according to ABC News, Hewitt responded to criticism, claiming that she was comfortable in her skin. Soon after, however, ABC News points out that Hewitt dropped almost 20 pounds to "boost her energy." We hear from iFitandHealthy.com that Hewitt adhered to the calorie shifting diet, where you "confuse your metabolism by up-shifting and/or down-shifting into different calorie ranges, which may help your body burn more calories."
SGranitz, WireImage | Splash News
Although she vehemently denied having an eating disorder, Nicole Richie's weight has fluctuated between thin and absolutely gaunt in recent years. She dropped to 90 pounds in fall 2006, which according to "People," was due to an inability to gain weight. When Richie became pregnant, she apparently focused on gaining weight for her baby, while also maintaining a light gym routine, but her quick transition back into her pre-baby body after she gave birth reportedly left fans worried. In the past Richie has blamed her dramatic weight loss on stress, so maybe that's the reason she lost so easily this time, too.
Jean-Paul Aussenard, WireImage | Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage
Best known for his role as Chandler on "Friends," Matthew Perry's weight has ballooned and deflated in relation to his reported numerous addictions, including painkillers and alcohol. According to "People," after Season 6 of "Friends" Perry dropped down to 145 pounds during a particularly rough period due to pancreatitis induced by "hard living and drinking hard and eating poorly." This resulted in a rehab stint at L.A.'s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Since his brief stay, his weight continued to fluctuate. Some of his weight gain can be attributed to recovery from addiction, while his periods of athleticism occurred when the former junior tennis champion "returned to the court and hired a personal trainer," according to "People."
When Britney Spears shimmied onto the music scene with her scandalous schoolgirl outfit at age 16, her stomach was flat as a washboard, and the rest of her body was youthfully fit. But after two babies, some said Britney wasn't looking too hot. To undo the toxic effects of hard living, we hear that she enlisted a personal trainer and got back on the dance floor. According to "OK!" Britney was so serious about getting into shape that she even cut back on her beloved Starbucks Frappuccinos!
eZuma.com | Kevin Mazur, WireImage.com
Far from his fit disco days in Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta's weight has swung up and down in recent years as a result of diverse movie roles and personal habits. According to the BBC, in 2001 Travolta upped his exercise routine to lose 25 pounds for Swordfish. The intense workouts, which included yoga and boxing according to AskMen.com, must not have lasted, as Travolta looked pleasantly plump during a shirtless romp in his 2007 film Wild Hogs. According to reports from the Daily Mail, Travolta claimed that "Life is too short to diet constantly" and declared an intense love of food -- both of which go far in explaining his yo-yoing.
AP | Jim Spellman, WireImage
Christian Bale worked out like a maniac while doing both intensive cardio and weight-training sessions for his brutal role in 2000's American Psycho. Four years later, he dropped a reported 63 pounds, by eating only an apple and a can of tuna every day, to play a skeletal drug addict in The Machinist.
Lions Gate Films | Paramount Classics
Beet Greens for a Better Diet
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| Photo: kthread, Flickr |
FitSugar says these greens cook and taste a lot like Swiss chard, and they recommend you blanch them in water for few minutes, drain and then prepare with a little olive oil, salt and garlic.
Crank Out the Perfect Push-Up
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| Photo: mikebaird, Flickr |
In a nutshell: Hands should be placed just outside the shoulders, feet hip-width apart (don't overestimate the size of your hips!), body should be perfectly in line from head to heels (think of your body as a plank of wood), tuck in your chin, eyes forward and then make sure your arms are straight at the top of your push-up (soft elbows) and your elbows are at 90 degrees at the bottom of your push-up -- for a full-range one, go all the way to the floor.
There's more -- like tips for speed and breathing, not to mention some pretty challenging push-up options too.
Heather Trimmed Portions to Slim Down
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
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| Heather Colella: Before |
Age: 39
Before weight: Between 190-200
How I gained it: Growing up, we never thought much about overeating, we just did it. It was normal to order two sandwiches and fries from McDonald's, eat two or three apple fritters on Saturday morning, make and eat lots of cookies or whatever else sounded good. Any time together was a time to eat. Food was a celebration.
Breaking point: At the age of 18, I overheard a family member tell someone how fat and lazy I was. I decided I was going to stay home less, and stop rewarding this person by continuing to eat all the fattening food.
