That's Fit

Yo-yo dieting is frowned upon, but one group may benefit if they lose weight, then gain it back.

A four-year study by Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research suggests people with type 2 diabetes who lose weight within 18 months post-diagnosis -- then eventually regain the pounds -- are twice as likely to have good blood pressure and blood glucose control than people with type 2 diabetes who did not lose weight. The study was published in this month's Diabetes Care.

Researchers speculate the body might have a metabolic memory that recalls the benefits of a lighter, fitter frame. Hmm ... permanent benefits of weight loss even when the weight creeps back on? I fondly remember my lean, mean high school basketball frame -- maybe my body does, too.

It can be extremely hard to watch what you're eating when you live with someone who stocks the fridge with all of your favorite unhealthy foods. Janet Jackson is finding this especially true -- her world tour begins in less than a month, and she has reportedly packed on some pounds this summer thanks to Jermaine Dupri's habit of filling her fridge with pizza, fried chicken, chocolate, and ice cream.

Janet's weight has always fluctuated -- back in 2006 she gained quite a bit of weight, but was able to lose it all in just four months. Earlier this year, Janet was looking fit and fabulous, and apparently she's hoping very much to get back to that point before her tour begins.

The singer might yo-yo diet, but it sounds like she's trying to drop the pounds healthily. She is now working with a nutritionist and chef and sticking to a 1700 calorie per day diet. I assume she's working out, too -- you know she has a great song for her playlist!

Losing weight, then gaining it back, losing it again, and gaining it back ... it's a vicious cycle that can really do a number on your body. Yo-yo dieting isn't good for your physical health -- or your emotional health. You can put a stop to the yo-yo madness once and for all. The key is understanding why it happens in the first place. Here are just a few of the ideas from AOL Body:

• You underestimate the power of sugar. High-sugar foods like refined carbs make your blood sugar spike and trigger a release of hormones that can make you feel more hungry and crave certain foods.
• You lie to yourself. You tell yourself that one indulgence won't hurt. And it won't! The problem starts when one indulgence turns into two, three, four, five, or more.
  
• You think in days. If you slip and allow yourself a treat or miss your exercise session you think "well, today's a bust ... I'll start again tomorrow." Don't let one slip mess up an entire day.

Be sure to check out the AOL Body slideshow to learn more about yo-yo dieting.

Is thin really in? Not necessarily when it comes to heart health. Recent research suggests that even the significantly overweight can improve their cardiovascular health, without losing a pound. Not only that, but yo-yo dieting -- or repeatedly losing and gaining weight -- can actually harm your heart if you gain back those pounds in dangerous belly fat.

Like our mamas always taught us, it's what happens on the inside that counts. Even if you don't always agree with what you see in the mirror, your HDL , triglycerides, and blood sugar can tell you if you're taking care of your internal health. I don't think that means that if your numbers are good, you get a pass to eat large bowls of ice cream while watching reruns of The Sopranos, like some of us (ahem) would like to do. But what it does mean is that even after getting plenty of activity and eating a healthy diet, you can only dream of the "perfect" body on the outside, you can celebrate the fact that you've got a killer body on the inside, and that's far more important where your health is concerned.

Read more about the healthy, heavy heart at AOL Body.