olympics-related stories
Helen Phillips, Swimsuits and Saltimbanco - Week in Review - May 18 to May 24
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Helen Phillips wins "The Biggest Loser." Bev gets the scoop on how she did it, how she's keeping the weight off and what her cheat foods are.Shawn Johnson takes on "Dancing with the Stars" (and her partner, who she once knocked out!) and is surprised to find out that dancing makes her sore.
Forget the candles on your birthday cake, what's your fat age? See if this calculator can accurately tally the amount of fat you're eating each day.
Olympic gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington wants girls to know that sport and glamour can mix, even if she can't wear her high heels in the pool.
Are you getting stressed about swimsuit season? Go see Fitz -- she's got some soothing words to get you into that suit and having fun.
You shoulda had a V-8! Better yet, says Jonny, get yourself a juicer. Drinking vegetable juice on a regular basis just might help you lose weight.
Intimidated at the thought of trying a yoga class? Now there's yoga for bigger bodies, and Maggie has tips for modifying those classic moves to fit your shape.
An upside down military press? Sounds hard. But Olivier Renaud of Saltimbanco makes it look easy. Watch more of the equipment-free exercises he uses to stay fit.
Sometimes, you just have to choose the french fries. But if you're going to eat them, at least choose the best option. Jacki shows you how.
Are you a squatter? Karla wants you to get up and move instead. Change those negative thoughts, she says, and you can do anything.
Rebecca Adlington - Is Sporty Uncool?
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

"Do you know why I like shoes? They make me feel feminine," Adlington recently told The Daily Mail. "My shoulders stand out and people always say, 'Aren't they broad?' And I think, 'Thanks! You are really making me feel better about myself.' I don't hate them, but I'd like to be more petite."
Adlington continues: "Without them, though, I know I wouldn't have the power I have – they are what makes me go so fast in the water – but out of the water, they definitely look better with a nice pair of shoes," she says with a laugh.
Michael Phelps - Fit Phenom Has Some Unfit Habits

Michael made a major error in judgment. What it means for him as an athlete and a role model is hard to predict right now -- will he keep his endorsements with healthy product labels like Speedo, Power Bar and Kellogg's, for instance? But as people who are dedicated to a healthy lifestyle, I think -- in a lesser sense, at least -- we all know what it's like to make a mistake like Michael did (but hopefully not an illegal mistake).
Much like Michael spends hours each day training, we dedicate our days to planning healthy meals, squeezing in workouts around busy lives and making good choices for ourselves. But every now and then, something comes along to throw us off track ... a slip-up that makes us feel like our success doesn't count.
Sasha Cohen - Yoga Brought Back Her Olympic Dreams
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Sasha Cohen turned to yoga when she retired from competitive skating after the 2006 Olympics, mainly because her mother had begun practicing and found that it really relieved the pain in her shoulder and back. Now, not only does the figure skater love yoga for the way it makes her feel, but it also has given her something she might not have ever found elsewhere -- another chance at Olympic glory.
Cohen practices four or five times a week, and has really benefited in terms of strength. Although she was already very flexible, and had strong legs from skating, her upper body and core were somewhat weak. Not any more. Plus, she's finding that she has more balance (which, you know, is kind of important in figure skating). She said, "The best thing about yoga -- as opposed to the gym or weights -- is that you have to use your own body, and it makes you really aware of all the connections and how to balance yourself."
The petite skater is rethinking her retirement. Because yoga has helped her gain strength -- she's stronger than she's ever been -- she's considering trying out for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. "I am training right now to see if I can get back to the place I want to be. I just don't want to rush my decision."
British Girl Can Lift Almost Twice Her Weight
Zoe Smith looks like your typical 14-year-old. She has a shy smile and, at only 5' 2'', she's quite petite. But Zoe is strong ... seriously strong. She's a competitive weightlifter and is creating quite a stir in the sport. Zoe weighs around 125 pounds, but in one clean and jerk, she hoisted 210 pounds worth of weights over her head. Hailing from London, Zoe took gold in the 2008 Commonwealth Games and was later named one of the British Olympic Association's Athletes of the Year. That's impressive under normal circumstances, but when you consider that Zoe has only been involved in the sport for two years, it's even more astonishing.
What an awesome role model Zoe is for young girls. Strong and dedicated, she shows how young girls can accomplish anything when they set their minds to it.
Keep an eye out for Zoe in the next Olympic Games. My guess is she'll be there. And maybe she'll show her teammates how to lift without making tragic exercise faces.
Michael Phelps - Out of Shape Since Beijing
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Fourteen gold medals, and the guy is taking a break and losing his shape. OK, let's humor him.
"I'm out of shape right now," the 23-year-old Phelps told Stephen Colbert on Thursday's Colbert Report. He also says he's eating a lot (he likes Eggs Norfolk with crab meat and a sour-cream quesadilla for breakfast), and he's still shoveling in about 8,000 and 10,000 calories a day. Yet, he can still lose five to 10 pounds a week (not fair!), and his weight registers at only 205. He says he's never weighed more than 200, but really, a five-pound weight gain? The guy is clearly doing something right. Come January, he'll be doing even more -- this is when the superstar swimmer says he'll begin training for the 2012 London Olympics.
Michael Phelps - 12,000 Calories a Day is a Lie
Michael Phelps, the swimming star of these past Olympic games, made more than a few headlines with the revelation that he eats 12,000 calories a day, almost 10 times what us regular folks consume. But while this number is much talked about, it's not actually true.During his recent appearance on 60 Minutes, Phelps revealed that he actually eats about 8,000 to 10,000 a day when he's training. That's still quite a lot of food, but Phelps insists that he really needs it -- "I have to always just constantly shovel food in because I can lose five to 10 pounds in a week," he says. Dang -- I sure wish I could say the same.
What does he eat to keep his calorie intake up? His Baltimore apartment is stocked with junk food and healthy foods alike -- peanut butter cups and Nutrigrain bars, to name a few.
Marion Jones, post-prison, speaks to Oprah
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements

According to Jones, her former coach, Trevor Graham, gave her pills he described as flax seed oil. Jones, who took numerous substances such as vitamins and creatine, didn't question what he was giving her. Jones said she was instructed to put the tablet under her tongue for a while and then swallow it. Later, during the investigation, prosecutors showed Jones a vial of a designer steroid nicknamed "the clear." Jones now admits that she recognized it immediately as the substance her coach had given her. "I made the decision I was going to lie and try to cover it up," explained Jones. "I knew that all of my performances would be questioned."
There's a lesson for all athletes here. From the average Joe to the high school quarterback to elite athletes -- we're all responsible for what we put into our bodies. Supplements such as whey protein and creatine are frequently used by athletes. But even legal supplements shouldn't be used without knowledge and caution. Proper nutrition, consistent exercise, and appropriate training are your best bets for keeping your body in peak condition.
Celebrity Fitzness Report: Gold Medal Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson
Celebrity Fitzness Report, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly, our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.
Pound for pound, Shawn Johnson would probably be the strongest member of the U.S. Army ... if she were in it. This petite 16 year old can do an insane amount of pull-ups on her first set alone, and has more drive than any NASCAR vehicle on the road. Wouldn't you love to have the strength, stamina and flexibility she's earned? Take some of the advice she gives here, and you may do just that. Just like the brilliant medals she won in Bejing this summer, Shawn's advice is golden!
Fitz: How many hours a week do you train before a competition?
Shawn: Before the Olympics I was training about 26 hours in the gym a week and up to five hours out of the gym running and swimming... doing anything extra I could.
Fitz: Your upper-body strength is amazing. How many pushups and pullups can you do?
Increase your athleticism with Olympians Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products
Join recent Olympic gold medal winning gymnasts, Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, tonight (Monday, September 22, 2008) for an exciting webinar. Hosted by Secret, the two champs will be chatting LIVE about their recent experiences and will even offer a few of you the opportunity to ask them questions personally!
Both Nastia and Shawn have achieved their athletic goals, and are joining forces with the Secret Sport Challenge in efforts to give away twenty $5,000 athletic scholarships so others can follow their dreams as well. This event promotes sports, fitness and health, and that's why I thought it would be a perfect event to share with you!
To attend the Secret Sport Challenge Webinar with Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson tonight at 5pm EST click here!
Nastia Liukin says gymnasts can't eat like Michael Phelps
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
The gold medalist said that she takes in close to 1200 calories, starting with "eggs or yogurt or oatmeal" for breakfast. "Then for lunch I'll have a salad with chicken or fish or some sort of protein and then for dinner I keep it really light with probably just a piece of fish and vegetables."
Liukin says that it's "just enough to keep [her] energized," which is a good reminder to those of us trying to drop some pounds. Even if you're putting in serious time at the gym, as she and her Olympic teammates undoubtedly do, you still have to be careful about your diet. She might not be taking in a ton of calories, but she's making sure they're healthy ones!
Does your workout have staying power?
The Olympics are over but in their wake they left a legion of people who were inspired to get moving. After all, there's nothing like the world's fitness elite to make even the most dedicated gym-goers feel lazy! But while there's nothing like a little inspiration, it's important to make sure you have enough motivation to last you until the next Olympics in 2010.
According to the Fitness Industry Association in the UK, 40% of fitness novices fall off the fitness wagon in their first year of working out. Don't be part of this statistic -- bear these tips in mind:
- Make mini-goals. Don't expect too much too soon -- instead, make small, attainable goals that will keep your mood positive and your motivation in check.
- Take it slow. Challenging yourself too much in the beginning can lead to injury and frustration.
- Up the intensity slowly. If your workout is too easy, it's not doing you any good. Find a way to make it more challenging
- Don't just throw in the towel. Where would Michael Phelps be if he quit when it got a bit difficult?
Kid Olympics: fun and fitness
Healthy Events, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Has Olympic fever hit your household? If your kids are broad-jumping the family room or breast-stroking in their bathtubs, perhaps a more organized kid Olympics is in order.Parent Center has compiled a list of three kid activities that will help you put together your own Kid Olympics.
- Obstacle Course -- Set this one up outdoors for fresh air and exercise. Aside from things to run around and through, add an element of skill with a golf or croquet aiming station.
- Balance Beams -- Start your toddlers off with phone book balance beams, then get narrower as your kids get older. Remind them that practice is the key in this event, and teach them balancing tricks, like holding out their arms.
- Broad Jump -- All you need are ropes and a motivated kid, and you've got yourself an Olympic sport.
The best part about these Olympic-inspired activities? They get your kids off the couch and moving. Yet another way to convince them that fitness is fun!
DIY Olympians trying to keep up
The Olympics have definitely inspired my family. My girls are enthralled by the female divers and gymnasts, doing flips off the couch after watching. My husband got caught up in the fever of the men's swim team and even tried to swim across a (small) lake during our vacation last week. I wasn't sure who was going to save him when he realized he wasn't Michael Phelps!The Olympics are meant to be inspiring, and it's awesome to see people everywhere taking an interest in their favorite sports. But what we all need to remember is that Olympians dedicate their entire lives to their sport, training every day for years. The BBC is reporting that manufacturers of fitness equipment are fielding calls from DIY Olympians who want to set their rowing machines, stationary bikes, and treadmills to perform at the same pace as their favorite Olympians, so that they can follow along at home.
The danger in this, besides breaking your expensive fitness equipment, of course, is that the average Olympics viewer is not in Olympian shape. Instead of trying to keep up with your personal Olympic hero, follow along at home within your own personal limits. Be inspired by the Olympics not to beat your favorite athletes (an impossible task), but to challenge your own personal best. If you're looking for workouts to motivate you, check out Kristen's post on turning Olympic inspiration into perspiration.
Acupuncture for athletes
I was watching the Olympics the other day and saw a piece where a reporter went and received acupuncture treatments. It was interesting to hear about this particular practitioner who was influential in acupuncture's acceptance into Western culture. After the piece, the reporter mentioned that Nastia Liukin, gold medalist in the women's all-around gymnastics competition, has weekly acupuncture treatments. She's not alone. Acupuncture is widely used as a method to aid and speed healing from sports-related injuries. Though the thought of multiple metal needles being inserted into your body is daunting, to say the least, proponents of the traditional form of medicine sing its praises. In addition to aiding in healing, acupuncture is said to help athletes by boosting energy, improving circulation, and ensuring the body gets the most out of nutrients. In addition, acupuncture is said to help improve the quality of sleep and boost immunity.























