moderation-related stories
Lower Calorie Versions of Everything You Love - This Week on AOL Health
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Tell us your take. Do these low-cal items look appetizing and filling? Do you try to go low-cal, or are you all about portion control?
Kate Winslet Sends Her "Tushie" a Valentine
I'm taking a little of my love and sending it to Kate Winslet this Valentine's Day. I mean, here's a woman who isn't afraid to admit that her body isn't perfect, but asks us all to respect the fact that she loves it anyway. She even refused to let Vanity Fair retouch her during a nude shoot last year. Looking for a healthy body image role model? She's it.
She's even giving her backside a little love these days. "I don't know a single woman who doesn't stand up and check the tushie before she walks out the door," she told Nightline on Friday. "I've decided I am going to start loving my backside, really just saying, yes. Because I don't know anyone who does that, you know? And for my daughter [Mia, who is 8], I want to be able to say to her, I love this."
Kate's joined a growing club of celebrity women who are saying no to super skinny bodies and yes to healthy curves. They work out and watch what they eat, but when they look back in the mirror on the way out the door ... they like what they see.
Hottest Celebrity Bodies
By Mary Kearl
Faith Hill
This 41-year-old has a hott mama body, and the world knows it thanks to her flat-belly pose on the cover of the much-drooled-over December 2008 issue of "Shape" Magazine. Not a fan of low-carb diets, Hill's meals consist of Mediterranean cuisine and fresh organic produce. We hear that Pilates, gave the confidence to show off what she's got.
Charley Gallay, Getty Images
Kelly Ripa
This 38-year-old mother of three slid through her 20s without taking exercising seriously. All that has changed now -- her arsenal of fitness moves includes running, squats, leg raises and arm-toning exercises. What keeps her going? Ripa has said vanity is a major motivator.
Jason Kempin, WireImage.com
Carrie Underwood
Grammy-Award winning, "American Idol" country singer Carrie Underwood has definitely been idolized for her musical talents, but her healthy diet deserves praise too. A vegetarian since she was 13, she explained in an interview with "Glamour" that obsessive food journaling and doing cardio helps her maintain a healthy weight. And according to "The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets," Underwood also made a few smart diet swaps -- green tea over soda, and whole grain bread instead of white. She's also banned high-cal cocktails, like margaritas and daiquiris.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Shakira
This beautiful belly dancer doesn't need a gym membership. Shakira's workouts take place on stage, with live audiences to cheer her on to dance harder (and burn more calories -- belly dancing can burn about 300 calories an hour). So it's no wonder this singer/song-writer has such toned legs, a lean middle, that tight butt, and of course, her signature, shapely hips.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Rosario Dawson
Rosario Dawson has a message for her fellow skinny-getting-skinnier actresses, she told British "Elle" magazine: "You might look cute in those jeans for one year of your life, but you might take 10 years off your life if you're not careful. It's not healthy." She's admitted that her own photo has been touched up and that camera tricks gave her a full booty on "Rent." But since then, she's done more workouts that include spinning, strength training, and . The result? "My butt is looking better," Dawson has reported.
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson
J-Hud has come a long way. She's lost 60 pounds since her days as a finalist on "American Idol" in 2004. She gained 20 pounds for her Oscar-winning role in "Dream Girls," but has lost the weight and then some. Her secret? Waking up at dawn to run. We love her sensible and determined approach to weight loss: "There's no shortcut -- you have to work for it," Hudson has said.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Sheryl Crow
Grammy winner Sheryl Crow has had many personal detours in the past few years. Yet, she has remained unstoppable. Now in remission from breast cancer, she has adopted a son and released a new album, appropriately titled, "Detours."According to Crow, looking and feeling so fabulous is all about a mix of exercise, eating a balanced diet and taking time to relax and quiet her mind.
Mark Von Holden/WireImage.com
Vanessa Williams
It is possible to have the body of a twenty-something in your forties -- at least it is for Vanessa Williams. This foxy mother of four explained how she does it to "Us Weekly": "When you're in your forties, you have to eat less and you have to move more. The bottom line is, it's work!" She does her "work" with celeb trainer Harley Pasternak, and she also does yoga and dances. No wonder she's the same size she was in college!
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys recently told "Us Weekly." "I'm into eating well and taking care of myself now." And we've noticed. We love this soulful songstress's toned arms and dancer legs. She's said that running regularly and training with Harley Pasternak (founder of the 5-Factor Diet) has helped her achieve "incredible results." When it comes to food, she limits her butter and salt intake, but still helps herself to mac 'n' cheese.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Helen Mirren
This stunning actress make aging look sexy. Plus, Helen Mirren has said: "The aging process happens and you cannot do the things you used to do. I will fight it off for as long as I can." She credits her shape to her good "constitution" and to getting exercise walking her dogs.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Everything in Moderation - Bad Advice?
I think we've all heard the diet advice "everything in moderation." It makes sense, but it's not without its flaws. For one, what is moderate? A single scoop of ice cream, or a single bowl of ice cream? One small cheeseburger or the super-double deluxe? The word moderate is vague and, for those who are at odds with their love of food, it can create problems. Sure, you can follow the serving sizes but, let's face it, the serving sizes on our favorite treats are often pretty puny.
Another caveat with the advice is that it's easier to follow with some foods than it is with others. Take the latest post on Glamour's Margarita Shapes Up blog, for example. The author was doing fine with a moderate serving of oatmeal each morning. But when she helped herself to a serving of her favorite cereal, she soon found herself going back for seconds and then thirds. The author's solution was dump the box of cereal in the garbage.
I've struggled with the everything in moderation mantra, too. However, I don't think deprivation is the key to sustainable weight loss. To attain a healthy weight -- and, more importantly, maintain it -- you have to learn to choose nutritious foods, keep portion sizes in control, and save treats for rare occasions.
Weight Loss - One Step at a Time
Just like two people are alike, not everyone approaches weight loss the same way. What worked for me was giving up (well, let's be honest, mostly giving up) sugar. What works for you might be something different.But when you've got a lot of habits to change -- you eat too much, you drink too much, you never exercise, you have a love affair with your couch -- it can feel overwhelming to change all your habits at once. That's where baby steps come in, and CNN has a great list of places to start. Cutting out cheese and mayo won't transform your body overnight (or even over a year), but for some people, taking it one step at a time is the thing that finally works for them.
I have a friend who lost a significant amount of weight over a 12-month period. A soda-addict, she started with a glass of water -- just one -- instead of her morning bottle of cola. At lunch, she drank another. At dinner, another. A year later, she's got healthy living down pat, and it all started with that one glass of water. Baby steps, indeed.
Coffee - does it do a figure good?
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
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I think the general consensus is that coffee, in moderation, is healthy. It's packed with healthy antioxidants and as long as it's paired with skim milk instead of cream and sugar, it's low in calories. And it can give your metabolism a bit of a boost -- something I think we all could use every now and then. Yes, coffee can help you lose weight but that's not always a good thing. According to recent studies out of the UK, drinking coffee can shrink a woman's breasts -- and ladies, I think most of us can agree that this is the last place we want to slim down, right?
However, these findings were true of women who drank three or more cups a day. Stick to one -- two, max -- and you should be fine.
(via Diet Blog)
Does your diet have 3 legs to stand on?
- Variety -- Select a number of different foods within a particular food group. Eating the same 'ol foods all the darn time will rob your body of key nutrients. Eat all carrots and you'll get a good dose of vitamin A but no folate. Got to have dark greens too, like spinach, broccoli, and asparagus. Go colorful with your fruits and veggies and you'll get plenty of variety.
- Balance -- Eat foods from all food groups. Eat grains, veggies, fruits, milk, meat, and beans. Eat a bean burrito with salsa, an apple, and a low-fat glass of milk and you've covered all of these groups. Make it your job is to consciously consume balanced meals throughout the day.
- Moderation -- Portion control is a must. Don't over-consume any one food, and don't ban your favorite foods if they don't meet perfect nutritional standards. There's a place for many different foods in your diet if you control how much you consume.
Tell us, do you have three legs to stand on?
Marg Helgenberger has a guilty pleasure
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
How to live healthfully is no mystery for CSI: Crime Scenes Investigation star Marg Helgenberger. Nope, the 49-year-old actress knows exactly what it takes to keep in fighting shape.Helgenberger meditates every morning, does yoga twice a week, reads for relaxation, and eats lots of yogurt, fresh berries, fresh papaya, sliced turkey, salad, and cheeses. A typical Helgenberger menu goes like this: Smoothie made with yogurt, rice milk, and fresh fruit, followed by a lunch featuring tuna or turkey sandwich or a salad topped with protein, and then fish or chicken with veggies and salad for dinner.
Guilty pleasures? Yep, she's got some. She loves chocolate chip cookies, Girl Scout thin mint cookies, fried chicken with macaroni and cheese, and a good steak now and then. It's all about moderation and balance for this woman who has a very sensible approach to aging: "I certainly want to look the best I possibly can," she says. "But I keep coming back to this theory that you have to work with what you've got and grow older gracefully."
What are your guilty pleasures? More important, though -- what are your secrets for keeping fit for the long haul?
Want protection against ALL diseases? Go Mediterranean
Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Love the rich, flavourful, fresh cuisine of Greece and Italy? Eat up! Not only is the Mediterranean diet effective and recommended by medical professionals, but a recent study shows that it protects against all major chronic diseases, according to this article from the Daily Mail.
That's a pretty bold claim, but it seems to be legit. Researchers in the UK analyzed data from 12 different studies worldwide that took place over time periods of up to 18 years and found that those who followed a Mediterranean diet closely had a significantly longer lifespan and a lower risk of diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and heart disease.
The Mediterranean diet is high in nuts, fish, whole grains, healthy fats, fresh fruits and veggies and even red wine in moderation. To find out how you can incorporate it into your diet, click here.
Ditch the diet foods -- teach kids moderation
Healthy Kids, Nutrition & Supplements
Research suggests that kids who eat low-calorie versions of foods may develop distorted connections between taste and nutritional content. If they never really experience the good stuff, they are more likely to overindulge when they do get a taste of it. So it's best to skip the diet goods and instead teach kids to eat all foods in moderation. Like the kid who never gets to watch TV and then arrives in front of a television set and can't break away, kids who are restricted from regular foods may one day go way overboard.
This makes sense to me -- that's why I think we adults can also benefit from this little diet lesson.
For more on this topic, take a look at this article.
Trying to ignore food cravings is 'Pointless', experts say
I suspect my trouble with cravings isn't unique to me, and studies out of the UK prove this to be true. In fact, on average, people eat more of their 'trouble' food when they cut it out of their diet. Oh dear. Still, these results aren't surprising if you ask me -- what do you think?
Unless you have super willpower, the key to sustaining weight-loss is eating a balanced diet if you ask me, complete with your favourite foods every now and then. Sure, you won't lose weight as fast as your would if you could cut all the bad stuff out, but you won't be in danger of sabotaging your progress with some sort of all-out binge either.
Who's in charge of moderation?
Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Moderation. It's a commonly-used word when it comes to eating and drinking. I mean, who doesn't occasionally justify an indulgence with the comment, "Everything in moderation." I'm sure it's a valid point. Eating cookies in moderation is surely better than shoveling them down day after day. Drinking alcohol in moderation? Much better than making a habit out of it. We might even get away with exercise in moderation -- for some, extreme workouts can lead to burnout, injury, and fatigue.
All this talk about moderation has me wondering: Who defines the specifics of moderation? And who exactly is the chairman presiding over this ambiguous term? I tend to think one man's moderation might be another's extreme. If left up to the individual to decide, moderation could be anything from one bite of chocolate per day to a trip through the fast-food drive-through every day. It might even be a few drinks per day when measured against someone else who drinks much more.
The 10 ingredients to weight-loss success -- with some surprises!
Want the perfect recipe for weight-loss success? eDiets may have the solution -- they've listed these 10 things that you should add to your diet to healthify your life:- Olive Oil
- Red Wine
- Nuts and almonds
- Whole grains
- Cold water fish
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Dairy
- Moderation
- Exercise
What's your ingredient for success?
Daily Fit Tip: How to Eat Like a Hot Chick
Daily Fit Tip, Diet & Weight Loss
If eating right and getting enough physical activity is about making permanent healthy lifestyle changes well then OK, sign me up. That doesn't mean I'm not still jealous of those skinny "hot" girls who seem to eat whatever they want without ever gaining a pound.But thanks to authors Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent, and their book How to Eat Like a Hot Chick, the secret is out on how to eat what you want and still be thin and fit: moderation.
The book says that "hot chicks" eat what they want, but they understand how to do it in moderation and balance things out. Want chocolate cake for breakfast? Go ahead! But you'll need to have something really light and healthy for lunch and dinner.
Hey ladies, do you pass on wine for whiskey? You're not alone
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Most of the girls I know are big red wine fans, myself included. Most of us are also beer fans and we all enjoy a nice gin and tonic or vodka and cola from time to time. None of us, as far as I know at least, ever order whiskey when we go out.
We may be behind the times though, because while my girlfriends and I opt for wine tastings, many women are making the switch from a nice Merlot or Shiraz to a glass of Glenlivet or Glenfiddich. That's right, some women are venturing into a drinking domain normally associated with older men -- these women are choosing to learn about and appreciate whiskey.
Like most forms of alcohol, whiskey isn't that bad for you in moderation and trying out a whiskey tasting or food pairing course might be a good excuse for a fun night out with friends, both male and female. If you think you may be game, take a look here for a basic whiskey tasting guide.
Drink too much last night? A few natural ways to feel better
Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health
Ah the hangover. Nature and your body's way of telling you you've gone way overboard. Unfortunately for some of us, it's a lesson we just can't seem to learn. I spent 8 hours driving home from a long weekend getaway yesterday and every one of my friends and I were feeling pretty rough in the car. I'm not naming names, but some had to pull over for a speedy emergency roadside pit-stop (I will say that it wasn't me!).
If you've known the pain of too much drinking and want help for similar situations in the future, or are currently suffering and need aid now, take a look at this article on natural remedies for the dreaded hangover. Sleep and gentle exercise are two easy suggestions, but if that won't cut it the piece also suggests trying B vitamins (B6 and B12) as they help flush out your overworked liver. For a few more ideas, you can see the article here. Of course, the best plan is moderation (but we all know that sometimes even the best of intentions can be ruined by a party that turns into a runaway).
Have you got any great hangover cures that you swear by?
