That's Fit

Working hard to climb that corporate ladder but can't seem to get ahead? It might be your weight holding you back. It seems that being overweight or obese might lower that oh-so-frustrating glass ceiling that women who want to climb to the top have to deal with. Interestingly, a large waistline might actually help men get ahead.

Here's the scoop: In one study, researchers compiled photographs of top male and female CEOs from 1,000 leading U.S. companies. Raters with expertise in determining body weight ranked the photos as normal, overweight or obese.

What they found is that compared to the U.S. population, overweight and obese women are greatly underrepresented among top CEOs:

• Twenty-two percent of female bosses are overweight, while 29 percent of American women are.
• Sixty-one percent of male bosses had packed on the pounds, compared with a 41 percent national average.
• Only five percent of CEOs -- regardless of gender -- were obese, despite a 36 to 38 percent national average.

Hey ladies! Are you trying to cut costs at the grocery store by buying low-cost junk like mac and cheese? It's not going to do your health or your hips any favors, but it just might get a date.

A 2005 study found that during times of "resource scarcity," men's preferences for female body types change. So exactly what does that mean? Are recession-weary men drooling over Botticelli-like rounded bellies and ample hips? Nothing quite so drastic. But men in the study did tend to find women who were a few pounds heavier more sexually attractive.

Researchers set up four situations to see what men find hot; two variables made the guys feel financially insecure while the other two variables tested them when they were physically hungry. The men who felt financially insecure chose women who were about two pounds heavier than those chosen by men who felt financially stable. And hungry guys tended to go for women who were about three pounds heavier than those chosen by men who were full.

Men and women are different, there's no arguing that. And around our house, it's never more apparent than when there's chocolate in the house -- I'm forced to eat it; he isn't.

OK, so not forced. That would imply I'm not in charge of what I eat. But it's really, really hard for me to resist sweets, which is why I don't buy them. He, on the other hand, is like a kid who still has Halloween candy left at Easter. In January, Bev told us that there's a reason for this: Our brains are wired differently. Men can say no to their favorite foods, but women can't stop thinking about them.

Clearly, when it comes to willpower, men have the upper hand. But according to "Newsweek," there are several ways that men and women differ when it comes to dieting. For instance, men might have stronger willpower, but nutritionally, women are smarter. "With women, they're very eager to learn," says American Dietetic Association spokesman Jim White. "They look for nutrients, read food labels and focus on healthy cooking and healthy meals."

I've been testing out the new adidas Supernova Glide running shoes (top image for women, lower image for men) and have great news for those of you desperate for more support. These shoes have lots of it. My initial response as I first put my feet into these shoes was, "Wow! They're so soft and comfy!" And after many uses, I still feel the same way; they kind of make me feel like I'm running on pillows.

l have, however, felt like it would be totally lame to describe them to you as "soft and comfy." That description seemed almost too simple. But last week, while I was working out at a gym in a beautiful Sandals Resort in Jamaica, I noticed the man next to me on the stepper wearing a pair. So I asked Kevin from Canada what he thought of his new Supernova Glides, and do you know what he told me? "They're soft and comfortable!"

Throughout both my career as a fitness professional and as a competitive athlete, my feet have taken quite a beating. Proper footwear is about the only thing keeping me going at this point. It is said that every step a runner takes places three times the amount of their body weight worth of impact down on each foot. Ouch! The right shoe has the ability to dramatically decrease the amount of trauma each foot will endure.

Hey guys, Valentine's Day is this Saturday so consider this your official reminder. If you and your love usually celebrate, this is not a holiday you want to forget.

If your girlfriend or wife is just as interested in diet and fitness as you are, then skip the giant box of gooey chocolates this Valentine's Day. There are plenty of other ways to let her know you're sweet on her, right?

Flowers are nice, sure. But a fit gift will tell her that you care as much about her health as you do her heart. We've got five great ideas for you in the gallery below.

Don't feel left out by the Spanx revolution, guys. Female celebs like Isla Fisher and Eva Longoria have admitted to wearing body-shaping undergarments. But there are options for men, too.

A BBC Newsbeat report recently put the men's body shapers to the test -- from underwear that's supposed to prevent muffin tops and lift the butt, to undershirts that are supposed to lift, tighten and shape. So there you go, guys. While you're working out and trying to get your body healthy and fit, you can get a little help from some underwear.

We know Isla and Eva love their Spanx. But I wonder what guy celebs have some serious shape-wear underneath their designer duds.

Men might cozy up to pizza, pasta, steaks and casseroles but not women. Nope. When we want comfort, we go straight for the candy and chocolate. And on cold days, warm soups, mashed potatoes and toasty breads might fill the void. Nothing wrong with that. Well, except for the fact that comfort foods tend to harbor lots of calories, fat and sodium.

Never fear, says registered dietician Julie Schwartz for AccentHealth: "Foods such as mashed potatoes, which is just a classic comfort food, can be made in a very healthful manner. You can cook the potatoes in chicken broth ... and then you add that broth back in as the moisture for the potatoes ... and they're very, very tasty."

You can also make our own soups and stews, says Schwartz -- just don't add too much salt. And homemade breads: Use half whole-wheat flour and half regular flour. You won't even notice a change in texture and taste. Portions are key as well. "It's about having three to four ounces of pot roast, not eight to twelve ounces of pot roast," says Schwartz.

What are your favorite comfort foods? And how do you keep them healthy?

It makes me happy when research backs the claim that men have an easier time losing weight than women. I like when science tells me it's normal that my husband can drop 40 pounds in a flash while I lose 15 oh so slowly. It makes me feel like I'm not so unsuccessful after all. Nope. I'm just normal. Same goes for the news that women have a harder time resisting favorite foods than men do.

Why do some people overeat and gain weight while others don't, asked a recent research question. Bev has the scoop here. And here's my take on the answer: Because the weight gainers are typically women, and female brains fire away when they see yummy foods (despite techniques to inhibit this response). Male brains don't.

Why must our girlish brains work this way? One thought is that the traditional role of the female is to provide nutrition to children, and our brains are hard-wired to eat when foods are available. Another perspective blames hormones. Regardless of the reason, the fact is that food choices today are more varied than ever before, making temptation a constant force in our lives.

Got a fitness goal in 2009? We've got just the place for you to start. Join us each week for America Takes it Off: Shrink a Size, and let up help you create the body you want this year.

Ever wonder how naturally thin people stay that way? Laura thinks she's found the key in these seven habits.

Did you know you're more likely to inherit obesity than high blood pressure? Learn 19 more interesting facts about fat.

Kellie Pickler lost 28 pounds and reshaped her entire body. Fitz finds out how.

Have you taken your workout inside for the winter? Here are five ways to amp it up.

Fitz wants a chance to work with Oprah and wonders: Are you suffering from Oprah syndrome?

I'm an advocate of healthy fats, but Martha wonders does this diet go too far?

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus ... even when it comes to weight loss? Check it out!

Have a great week, everyone!

Men lose more weight than women when they set their minds to the task. No fair, is it? Maybe we gals can learn a thing or two from our guy counterparts.

• Guys don't eat mindlessly. Well, not as much as women do. Maybe it's because they are usually less involved in food preparation and don't have bowls of cookie dough at their fingertips. While you might not be able to get yourself banned from the kitchen, you can stick a piece of gum in your mouth to minimize snacking.
• Men have fewer cravings. Fewer hormonal fluctuations help in this department. Plus, when men satisfy their cravings, it's usually with protein-rich foods. Women: Stay away from the sweets and try lean meat, fish, skinless chicken, turkey and eggs when you feel the urge to eat.
• Men know their waist size. Guys know when their belts get too tight. Women don't wear as many belts and opt for stretchier materials, which can disguise weight gain. If belts aren't in your future, step on the scale occasionally or try on your favorite skinny jeans to monitor your growth.

OK, now women don't have it all wrong. Here's how they have a leg up on men.

Imagine being the only guy in a weight loss group filled with dozens of women. I'm no guy, but I imagine it would be pretty daunting ... and a bit humiliating. Weight Watchers wants to change the women-only stigma surrounding the industry of weight loss -- in the new year, they're launching men-only slimming classes.

According to Mads Ryder, Vice President of Weight Watchers UK, "Worrying about your weight is still largely seen as a female issue and it can be very difficult for a man to admit he has a problem and seek help. Our research shows that many men feel intimidated by the traditional female-dominated meeting room environment which is why we are trialling our Men Only meetings in venues men are familiar with, such as gyms and sports clubs."

It's so true, huh? Weight loss is seen primarily as a female issue, but we all know it's not. All the same, I have trouble picturing a room full of men discussing their cellulite, love of ice cream, emotional eating and so on. Will men-only groups help? Or is a man's reluctance to seek help with weight loss a different issue?

A group of men and women (about 2,600 of them) were surveyed recently by the folks at Real Simple magazine. Happiness was the topic, and some interesting stuff turned up -- like this: Women secretly wish for separate bedrooms; men secretly wish for separate vacations, Who knew? Most revealing, though, are the 10 things both women and men reported would make them happier. They're a pretty happy bunch already -- 75 percent of women say they are happy while 71 percent of men claim happiness. Still, there's always room for improvement -- and a better body and losing weight sure would help matters.

Check out the poll below (there's one for you guys and another for the gals) and tell us which of these 10 Real Simple things you'd take as happiness helpers. I'll be back to weigh in on the results -- can't wait to see how the body issues stack up.

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!

I just posted a list of my favorite fitness tools of the year in my Holiday Hottie column over at Holidash, and since you are all fitness fans ... I'd feel silly not to share it with you.

The bottom line is: I'm privy to the best tools and clothes on the market. I aggressively seek out hot new items, and sometimes the makers of those items seek out me. At the end of the day, I drop the crap and keep the stuff I truly love.

My short list of Gifts to Get Greedy Over is comprised of some of the most innovative tools for training at all levels of fitness. Oh! And the apparel is to die for. So scoot on over to Holidash and give the gift of fitness. Or ... get something fancy for yourself. You deserve it!

I wish you happy and healthy holidays!

Did you know that women tend to eat more healthfully than men? And that women are more likely to choose foods to benefit their overall health and/or select foods for a specific health purpose (e.g. digestive health)? After the somewhat frustrating news Martha gave us about the difference between men and women when it comes to fitness, I'm glad to hear women have an edge somewhere.

According to a recent research study, both genders believe that nutrition plays an important role in health, but women came out on top in all categories studied. For example, 53% of women choose foods to benefit overall wellness, compared to 46% of men.

So c'mon guys ... consider it a challenge. Maybe by the next time this subject is studied, you'll have closed the gap.

[via Vital Juice Daily]