weight-related stories
Caroline Freed Herself of Fast Food and Lost 145 Pounds
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation, Success Stories
Be inspired by our That's Fit Success Stories. Then motivate others by submitting your own. Share how you've transformed your body through diet and exercise by sending us an e-mail at successstories [AT] thatsfit [DOT] com.
Name: Caroline Nittolo
Age: 35
Height: 5 feet, 2 inches
Before weight: 271
Breaking point: After my father passed away from complications from diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, I hit rock bottom, and I was still using food as comfort. I went to see the doctor, and my blood pressure was very high. For the first time, I had health issues, and it scared me. Right around that time, I had to travel for a month on business/pleasure and had to take 14 different flights. I was so mortified that the seat belts didn't fit me! The worst part of the whole experience was that most of the flight attendants automatically brought the seat belt extender to me. They knew just looking at me that I would need it. It was horrible! I knew I was big, but I tried to block out the fact that most people could see how big I really was.
Caroline Nittolo, Before
Photo: Caroline Nittolo
Name: Caroline Nittolo
Age: 35
Height: 5 feet, 2 inches
Before weight: 271
How I gained it: I have been overweight my entire life, but I gained the majority of the weight over the past five years. My dad was very sick and in the hospital for a long time, and I used food as an escape. I ate fast food three or four times a week; I was a fast food drive-thru queen! My favorite was McDonald's, but I would also go to Wendy's and Burger King. I always felt happy while I was eating the food, but I would feel guilty when I finished.
I never got out of the car, thinking that no one would see how big I was if I used the drive-thru. I ordered super-sized meals, but drank a Diet Coke with them, kidding myself that would make a difference. I do miss Ronald, Wendy, and the King, but they were no friends of mine. They were my worst enemy.
I never got out of the car, thinking that no one would see how big I was if I used the drive-thru. I ordered super-sized meals, but drank a Diet Coke with them, kidding myself that would make a difference. I do miss Ronald, Wendy, and the King, but they were no friends of mine. They were my worst enemy.
Breaking point: After my father passed away from complications from diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, I hit rock bottom, and I was still using food as comfort. I went to see the doctor, and my blood pressure was very high. For the first time, I had health issues, and it scared me. Right around that time, I had to travel for a month on business/pleasure and had to take 14 different flights. I was so mortified that the seat belts didn't fit me! The worst part of the whole experience was that most of the flight attendants automatically brought the seat belt extender to me. They knew just looking at me that I would need it. It was horrible! I knew I was big, but I tried to block out the fact that most people could see how big I really was.
Burn Calories While Walking
Walking is one of the simplest exercises out there because most of us do it every day. Starting a walking program is just like beginning any other exercise program.
The amount of calories burned while walking can vary greatly, depending several factors. The amount of time you walk, how fast you go, what shape you're in and even where you walk can make a big difference in the calories you burn. For instance, a 150-pound person who walks slowly on a firm surface for half and hour will burn about 85 calories, whereas a 200-pound person on a cross-country hike will burn 273 calories in the same amount of time. Calorie calculators can help you determine how many calories you're burning.
When it comes to upping your calorie burn, remember to keep your pace up: Walking can burn as many calories as running if you work hard enough. And, don't shy away from hills. They might leave you breathless but you'll burn mega calories in the process. Finally? Head off the beaten path. Hitting the trails on a nature walk burn more calories than city-walking does.
Why should you care about how many calories you burn? Burning more calories shaves inches off your waistline and is crucial for your overall health and well-being.
The amount of calories burned while walking can vary greatly, depending several factors. The amount of time you walk, how fast you go, what shape you're in and even where you walk can make a big difference in the calories you burn. For instance, a 150-pound person who walks slowly on a firm surface for half and hour will burn about 85 calories, whereas a 200-pound person on a cross-country hike will burn 273 calories in the same amount of time. Calorie calculators can help you determine how many calories you're burning.
When it comes to upping your calorie burn, remember to keep your pace up: Walking can burn as many calories as running if you work hard enough. And, don't shy away from hills. They might leave you breathless but you'll burn mega calories in the process. Finally? Head off the beaten path. Hitting the trails on a nature walk burn more calories than city-walking does.
Why should you care about how many calories you burn? Burning more calories shaves inches off your waistline and is crucial for your overall health and well-being.
Apple Cider Vinegar - Does it Help Weight Loss?
Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apple cider and is considered by many alternative health practitioners to promote overall health and well-being. Traditionally, apple cider vinegar has been thought to help with a variety ailments including gout, acne, arthritis, allergies and high cholesterol, but it came to be especially popular for its medicinal properties thanks to a bestselling book published in 1958, "Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health" by D.C. Jarvis, M.D. In the 1970s, many started to believe that apple cider vinegar could help speed up weight loss as well by increasing metabolism.
Several small studies have shown that regular doses of apple cider vinegar can help lower blood glucose levels, offering promising potential to those suffering from diabetes. Additionally, apple cider vinegar is used to restore alkaline acid balance and is a popular home remedy for zits and acid reflux. Apple cider vinegar is believed to have a positive impact on high blood pressure and cholesterol but more research is needed.
Apple cider vinegar can be ingested or applied to the skin in its natural form, though there is a small chance that it can cause burning. Subsequently, many users tend to dilute the vinegar with water and mix it with honey.
Check out AOL Health for more about Natural Weight-Loss Aids. Plus, stay up-to-date with Diet and Fitness News from That's Fit.
Several small studies have shown that regular doses of apple cider vinegar can help lower blood glucose levels, offering promising potential to those suffering from diabetes. Additionally, apple cider vinegar is used to restore alkaline acid balance and is a popular home remedy for zits and acid reflux. Apple cider vinegar is believed to have a positive impact on high blood pressure and cholesterol but more research is needed.
Apple cider vinegar can be ingested or applied to the skin in its natural form, though there is a small chance that it can cause burning. Subsequently, many users tend to dilute the vinegar with water and mix it with honey.
Check out AOL Health for more about Natural Weight-Loss Aids. Plus, stay up-to-date with Diet and Fitness News from That's Fit.
Jessica Simpson's Weight Mocked on 'Fox NFL Sunday'
Photo: Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images
Apparently, Burger King and Fox feel differently. They ran a positively caustic cartoon on "Fox NFL Sunday" making fun of Simpson's weight. And while they've since apologized, what does it mean when a girl who is no bigger than a size 6 is subject of fat jokes?
Yes, Simpson is a star, and yes, she's chosen to live her life in the public eye. But she's recently experienced a painful breakup and the loss of a beloved pet. The fact that she's famous is irrelevant -- if you were her pal, or even a passing acquaintance, you'd be horrified by a commercial like this, and I see no reason to feel otherwise simply because she's not one of my close friends.
Designer Says Nobody Wants to See Real Women Model
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Photo: Francois Guillot, AFP/Getty Images
Not everyone is ready to accept curves as fashionable, though. German designer Karl Lagerfeld has spoken out about this, telling news magazine Focus, "No one wants to see curvy women. You've got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying that thin models are ugly."
This was in response to a decision made by Brigitte, a top German magazine -- they announced they'd no longer use unrealistically-skinny models in their pages, and instead, would hire "real women."
Lagerfeld says that fashion is all about "dreams and illusion," so using regular women instead of professional models is "absurd." But Brigitte's readers don't think so -- the magazine's decision was made at the behest of their devoted, fashion-forward following.
Brigitte isn't the only mag to feature the full-figured -- Glamour did it not long ago, with seriously-successful results! But clearly not everyone is on board. London's recent Fashion Week was rife with ultra-thin models, and criticism that the shows promote anorexia.
So Lagerfeld is not the first person in fashion to defend the shape of his models, but he is also no stranger to controversial comments. Just check out what he said about Heidi Klum and Seal!
At That's Fit, we applaud images of healthy women in all contexts, including on the catwalk. Check out the gallery below to see some of our favorite healthy (and sexy!) stars.
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Curvy Female Celebs
Who says you have to be stick-thin to make it in Hollywood? This bevy of shapely celebs proves curves can be sexy -- and healthy.
By Stephanie Watson
Getty Images North America
Curvy Female Celebs
When this hot Latina singer burst onto the music scene in the 1990s, tongues wagged at the sight of her now-famous derriere, but J. Lo has always been comfortable in her curves. She makes workouts a regular part of her routine, and even finished a triathlon in 2008, but she'll never apologize for loving food.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
This Welsh actress' weight has edged up and down throughout her career, but she's always leaned toward the voluptuous side of the scale. Zeta-Jones claims to hate Hollywood's weight obsession as much as she detests dieting, but she's managed to stay in shape through two pregnancies thanks to regular trips to the gym, and golf outings with hubby Michael Douglas.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Hollywood triple threat, actress/producer/director Salma Hayek wears her hourglass figure with pride. Size 0 is definitely not for her. Diet and exercise put her in a bad mood, and she claims, "I'd rather be a little heavier but nice." A lot of fans don't seem to mind, including pop star Prince, who wrote a song urging Hayek's daughter Valentina to "tell your mama she should give me a call."
Robert Benson, Getty Images
Can you say, Bootylicious? When she coined the term, Beyoncé was likely checking out her own voluptuous shape in the mirror. The pop diva says she stays fit by running and doing regular gym workouts, but she admits to indulging in the occasional French fries and Krispy Kreme donuts.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
Kate Winslet has long revolted against the movie industry's skinny mold, vowing never to become a "stick insect" like some of her co-stars. She's so proud of her curves that in 2007 she launched -- and won -- a lawsuit against a magazine that dared to claim she was -- (gasp!) on a diet.
Jason Merritt, Getty Images
In 2002, America Ferrera proved that "Real Women Have Curves" in her breakout movie role. Far sexier in real life than her geeky character on "Ugly Betty," Ferrera wears her size 10-12 jeans with pride.
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
Reality TV staple Kim Kardashian has gotten a lot of flak for having a little cellulite, but she says she's proud of her body. Recently, Kardashian has vowed to eat healthier and tone up, but she wouldn't change a thing about her curvy physique.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Scarlett Johansson admits a love for Snickers bars, and once joked that her idea of aerobics was "going out for a slice." Though she says she'll never be stick-thin, why should she care, when Esquire magazine voted her "The Sexiest Woman Alive?"
AFP, Getty Images
When Kelly Clarkson captured the first American Idol title and launched one of the biggest careers in pop music, her weight was big news to everyone -- except her. Clarkson says she eats what she wants, works out regularly and is just fine with her shape.
Jemal Countess, Getty Images
Tyra Banks has put on a few pounds since she graced the cover of that famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue back in 1997. But when the tabloids ran an unflattering photo of her in a bathing suit with the tagline, "Americas Next Top Waddle," Banks fought back, saying she'd rather be a good role model for girls than an emaciated supermodel.
John Shearer, Getty Images
Another Reason to Lose Weight
Jonny's Take, Diet & Weight Loss
Photo: Getty Images
Here's another reason to take weight loss seriously (as if you needed one!): Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, the University of Toronto and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington have just published the most comprehensive study ever about how diet, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors for chronic disease contribute to mortality in the United States.
Want to know what they found? The number of preventable deaths per year in the U.S. tied specifically to obesity and overweight is (drum roll please): 216,000. Pretty stunning figure, isn't it? And, just to hammer home the point, the number of preventable deaths due specifically to a sedentary lifestyle is another 191,000.
Now, I'm familiar with the arguments about being fat and fit, and they're not without some merit. Steven Blair, the well-known director of research at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Texas defines himself as a "fat, fit guy" -- he runs more than five miles per week -- but the fact remains that being overweight raises the risk for lots of things that you don't want to have. That said, if you can't lose weight -- or if you don't want to -- at least start exercising. You can definitely decrease the odds of dying, not to mention improve circulation and mood, and even preserve your brain. Plus, even if you're not specifically trying to use exercise as a weight-loss technique, it doesn't take a whole lot to get those health benefits and take yourself out of the "high risk for dying" group. Just 30 minutes a day of brisk walking. And just as it doesn't take that much exercise to make a major difference in your health, it also doesn't take a lot of weight loss.
Staying Alive: Why Every Pound Counts
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| Photo: mod as hell, Flickr |
So who fared the best? Researchers found that women who reported a BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 at age 18 and kept it stable over the next 30 years were the healthiest, and women who maintained the same weight throughout their lives -- regardless of BMI -- were healthier than those who let the numbers on the scale creep up.
According to the researchers, "These data emphasized the significance of maintaining a healthy weight throughout adulthood to enjoy a long and healthy life." In other words? A little bit of extra junk in your trunk -- even if you're not reaching obese proportions -- won't do you any favors in the long run.
Need inspiration to stay fit until your golden years? Check out this 74-year-old body builder!
When to Keep Weight-Loss Secrets - This Week on AOL Health
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| Photo: Getty Images |
How Your Friends Influence Your Weight
Watch who you hang out with -- your friends might determine your weight.
Fired for Being 'Fat'? SNL's Weighty Controversy
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| Photo: Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images |
According to Ted Casablanca's column on E! Online, a comedy source says that the producers at "SNL" told Wilson she had to lose 30 pounds during the summer break, and when she didn't, she was off the show.
It should be noted that the voluptuous comedienne failed to develop the kind of comic character that would make her a leading lady on the show. Casablanca notes that she even made a Funny or Die video based on that fact.
Omega-3s and Weight Loss
Jonny's Take, Diet & Weight Loss
Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.
I've been touting the benefits of omega-3 fats for a long time. They lower triglycerides, improve circulation and cell health, boost mood and decrease inflammation. But can they help with weight loss?
Maybe so. New findings reported in the British Journal of Nutrition found that overweight and obese people have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids than people with a healthy weight.
"Our findings suggest that (omega-3) fatty acids may play an important role in weight status and abdominal (obesity)," wrote the researchers, led by Professor Monohar Garg from the University of Newcastle, and president elect of the Nutrition Society of Australia.
Other research has shown that omega-3s have a protective role in preventing obesity. "Previous studies involving children and adolescents have shown a negative correlation between adiposity (fatness) and [blood levels] of omega-3s," explained the researchers.
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| Photo: sxc.hu |
Maybe so. New findings reported in the British Journal of Nutrition found that overweight and obese people have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids than people with a healthy weight.
"Our findings suggest that (omega-3) fatty acids may play an important role in weight status and abdominal (obesity)," wrote the researchers, led by Professor Monohar Garg from the University of Newcastle, and president elect of the Nutrition Society of Australia.
Other research has shown that omega-3s have a protective role in preventing obesity. "Previous studies involving children and adolescents have shown a negative correlation between adiposity (fatness) and [blood levels] of omega-3s," explained the researchers.
eScale - Follow Your Weight on the Internet
Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products
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| Photo: bodytrace.com |
for as little as $19.99. Want more bells and whistles? Up goes the price, which might be worth it if the thing helps you score diet and fitness success.It hasn't arrived on the scene just yet, but soon to be unveiled is a new pricey gadget called eScale, which is a bathroom scale connected to the Internet. BodyTrace, the company behind the technology, thinks the instant feedback you'll get from using this product will make it well worth its $119 price tag. You decide, here's how it works:
Just step on the scale to weigh yourself, and your weight and BMI will be wirelessly and instantly transmitted to a website where you can follow your progress -- you'll have a page that looks something like this. You'll also get access to recipes and diet/fitness ideas, and you can play around with an interactive food diary, Twitter about your accomplishments (or setbacks) and check in with the BodyTrace blog -- posts are dry and technical right now (evolution of the design and styrofoam packaging for the batteries), but maybe they'll liven up once the product starts delivering in September. You can pre-order here.
What do you think: Is the eScale worth its price? And will you buy it?
Fat is the New "Normal"
Jonny's Take, Diet & Weight Loss
Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.
Retailers would like to help us remain in a state of denial about our ever-expanding waistlines. They'd like us not to notice how fat we're actually getting.
We don't like facing up to the fact that we're becoming fatter by the minute, and most of us don't particularly like buying "fat clothes." We'd prefer not to notice that those size 8 dresses that used to fit no longer do, or that when we try on those 32-inch waist jeans that used to fit so well, they now feel like they were made for just one of our legs. When that happens, we just don't buy as much. Retailers noticed -- and they have a solution. They changed the sizes.
"In recent years," writes Elizabeth Landau on CNN.com, "brands from the luxury names to the mass retail chains have scaled down the size labels on their clothing," which means "you may actually be a size 14, and, according to whatever particular store you're in, you come out a size 10," says Natalie Nixon, associate professor of fashion industry management at Philadelphia University. Why? Simple. It makes the consumer -- you and me -- feel good.
Retailers would like to help us remain in a state of denial about our ever-expanding waistlines. They'd like us not to notice how fat we're actually getting.
We don't like facing up to the fact that we're becoming fatter by the minute, and most of us don't particularly like buying "fat clothes." We'd prefer not to notice that those size 8 dresses that used to fit no longer do, or that when we try on those 32-inch waist jeans that used to fit so well, they now feel like they were made for just one of our legs. When that happens, we just don't buy as much. Retailers noticed -- and they have a solution. They changed the sizes.
"In recent years," writes Elizabeth Landau on CNN.com, "brands from the luxury names to the mass retail chains have scaled down the size labels on their clothing," which means "you may actually be a size 14, and, according to whatever particular store you're in, you come out a size 10," says Natalie Nixon, associate professor of fashion industry management at Philadelphia University. Why? Simple. It makes the consumer -- you and me -- feel good.
Lose Weight to be Good to Your Knees
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| Photo: j.fralin, Flickr |
In addition to heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions, obesity can put you at risk for knee injury and conditions like osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative musculoskeletal disorder that usually develops slowly, but obesity can cause rapid deterioration of the cartilage in the knee. Once you develop osteoarthritis, there's not much doctors can do; treatments revolve around managing the pain, and severe cases may require knee replacement surgery.
Over 300 patients who were at risk for osteoarthritis participated in a recent study. Weight proved to be a big factor in tissue decline; for every one unit increase in body mass index, the chance for cartilage loss jumped by 11 percent.
Renee Zellweger Packs on Bridget Jones Pounds Again
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| Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images |
Zellweger gained roughly 28 pounds for each of the first two movies. Certainly not enough to make her tiny frame overweight by any standards -- in fact, she looks downright cute as Bridget Jones. But gaining 28 pounds probably isn't as fun as it seems. "I had a panic attack with all the specialists talking about how bad this is for you long-term, putting on that much weight in short periods of time," Zellweger told the Daily Mail. In fact, Zellweger has described her body as "whacked" after putting it through the Bridget Jones weight gain. "It doesn't know what has happened because it thinks there's supposed to be a baby and there's no christening," joked Zellweger.
For the first Bridget Jones movie, Zellweger gained the weight by eating as many doughnuts and cheese pizzas as her body could take. Not surprisingly, the junk food and lack of exercise made her feel sluggish. For the second movie, she hired a nutritionist and gained the weight with a controlled, but high-calorie, diet.
Losing the weight again was no bed of roses, either. Zellweger said that she felt like she had a toddler strapped to her back while running around the track. Obviously, Zellweger has the funds for trainers and the expensive Ashram Spa in Calabasas, Calif., but the hard work required to lose the pounds was all hers.
If you could earn a Zellweger-like salary, would you be willing to gain and lose weight repeatedly for work?
