7 Diet Secrets of the Stars

Celebrities always look fabulous. Whether appearing in television or films or strutting down the red carpet during movie premiers and awards, they never cease to fascinate us with their larger than life presence. The truth is, it takes a lot of effort to look the way they do, and being the public figures that they are, they cannot afford to slack off when it comes to taking care of their physical appearances. Their livelihood largely depends on how they look. Aside from the clothes, the hair and the makeup, celebrities have to take good care of their bodies.

So it is no surprise that these stars have their own secrets when it comes to staying fit and gorgeous. Their health agenda can range from extreme workouts to well-planned meals. Who doesn't want to know their secrets in staying absolutely sexy? Here are some of the diet secrets of seven women celebrities.

1. Jennifer Aniston
The star of the phenomenal television show Friends not only mesmerized audiences with her adorable comic sense and her famous hairstyle, she was also known for having one of the sexiest bodies in Hollywood, as she appeared in countless magazine covers. To stay trim, Jennifer follows the 40:30:30 diet method. The diet consists of:

40% Low glycemic carbohydrates
-Foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables, legumes

30% lean proteins
-Tofu, fish, chicken, turkey, beef and low fat dairy products

30% essential fats
-nuts and seeds, fish and olive oils

It is essential that every meal should contain macronutrients to attain the balance of hormones and maximum weight loss.

2. Kate Hudson
The gorgeous daughter of actress Goldie Hawn gained 60 pounds during her pregnancy, which she needed to shed quickly before commencing on her next film. From her previous eating plan, she switched to a higher protein diet. She consumed high protein meals in smaller portions, and she combined this diet with an exercise program that includes weight training and cardiovascular workouts. After getting a lot of flak because of her post-pregnancy figure, Kate removed all that baby weight in only four months and has gained abdominal muscles that gained the envy of many in Hollywood.

3. Oprah Winfrey
As one of the most successful talk-show hosts in the world, there is no question that Oprah needs to maintain her physical appearance for her millions of audiences. Known as one of those celebrities who are constantly battling weight gain, she has recently toned up her figure and has never looked figure in age 50 by combining a regular exercise regime and diet plan. Oprah works out five days a week, spending 30 minutes on the threadmill and doing free weights. Her eating plan consists of legumes, fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables, chicken and dairy products that are lowfat. She limits her consumption of white sugar and flour. Oprah also credits her trim figure to her habit of not eating anything after seven in the evening.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow
A lot of people may find it hard to believe that the perpetually slim Academy award-winning actress actually needs to diet. Gwyneth actually follows a healthy eating plan that resembles Oprah's, avoiding sugar and white flour. She usually follows a macrobiotic diet, eating foods like vegetables, brown rice, and lean meat. She also eliminated dairy from her diet, and does yoga everyday.

5. Madonna
The pop star known as the Material Girl has always flaunted a body that is to die for, and has become a true fitness paragon over the years. She keeps herself in tip-top shape by having Ashtanga Yoga, and follows a strict diet that mostly shuns junk foods. She adopted a macrobiotic eating plan that includes organic foods rich in lean protein.

6. Claudia Schiffer
The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.

7. Christie Brinkley
Long-time supermodel maintains her all-American good looks by being a vegetarian. She does not keep junk foods of any kind inside her home to make sure that she does not eat them when cravings occur. She snacks on sweet potatoes in place of candy bars, and she adopts a liquid juice diet when she needs to slim down fast.

Celebrities are just like ordinary people. They need to maintain their figures just like anyone else, and there is more pressure on their part since they are constantly in the public eye. Ordinary folks can have celebrity-like bodies, too, and by following these diet and fitness plans, they can also look like red-carpet worthy.

Notions About Slimming Down

The captivating thing about diets is that you don't get what is researched or predicted or calculated but rather, you get precisely what you expect. If the diet resonates with you then it will likely work, if it doesn't resonate, it won't. Pick the one diet that matches your expectations best and you'll succeed and get what you desire -- or lose, for that matter. 

On a lot of diets, you're not eating the way you'll eat for the remainder of your life. You consume foods you might not like a great deal and don't find comforting. If you're determined enough, you stick with it till you reach your goal. But you know this is "just for the diet" instead of finding healthier foods you like in amounts that don't induce weight gain. 

The very word "diet" is depressive to many of us. We consider giving up foods that are satisfying and enjoyable. We consider sitting a party with celery sticks while other people are eating the crab puffs. We might even stop socializing as food is a big part of how we interact with acquaintances and loved ones. We feel stripped, alienated and alone, except for others who are dieting. Finally we give up and enter back into the world of happy unrestrained eating, carrying damaging feelings toward healthier "diet foods." 

If you don't exercise then you fall off of the diet, the weight will come back on even quicker, as your body is burning fewer calories per day. Even worse, the weight will return on as fat instead of as the muscle you lost. Your body will look even less lean and healthy. Your opening move to improve your health and appearance is to start daily exercise. The exercise doesn't have to be intense -- pick actions you like such as walking, biking, or swimming. Get your body going most days of the week. 

You have to eat fewer calories than you burn in a day if you would like to slim down. You can do that by eating fewer calories than you need, or by exercising more, or both. 

Pilates Myths Debunked

Few people know the truth about Pilates.  They don't know it began as a rehabilitation program for

injured soldiers during World War I.  They don't know Joseph Pilates was a boxer.  They don't realize that strengthening the "core" muscle group can improve their golf swing.

The truth is that Pilates allows golfers to hit the ball farther and straighter by increasing core strength, flexibility, stability, balance, posture, alignment and coordination. Unfortunately, many athletes dismiss Pilates as a recent fad, a fancy stretching routine, or "something for ballet dancers."

Myth: Pilates was developed for dancers.

Joseph Pilates was a boxer and gymnast.  His theories about how the body moves were first developed in World War One at a prisoner of war camp where he served as a medic.  He began putting his theories into practice by attaching springs to the hospital beds to help rehabilitate wounded soldiers.

Today, Pilates equipment still uses springs for resistance.  When Joseph moved to New York City, dancers were naturally drawn to his rehabilitative and preventative techniques due to the high number of injuries they sustain.

Myth: Pilates is a recent fad

Joseph Pilates first developed his philosophy and technique for movement in the 1920's and 1930's, refining his method until his death in 1967.  It was not until the 1990's that Pilates grew in popularity.  Hollywood stars and celebrities discovered that the exercises resulted in the coveted long, lean shape and their enthusiasm launched Pilates into the national spotlight.

Myth: Pilates is a fancy word for stretching

Pilates is so much more than just stretching.  The exercises develop overall body strength and flexibility simultaneously, which results in the long lean muscles of a Tiger Woods.

Flexibility was a pretty radical idea in the early 20th century! But Pilates saw that long, lean muscles were less prone to injury and tears.  Tight muscles also pull on the spinal structure causing neck and back pain.

Joseph Pilates believed in efficiency.  Pilates techniques build strength and flexibility simultaneously.  For each strengthening movement, there is a corresponding stretch.  These aren't your typical stretches either.  The movements that Pilates developed incorporate flowing, dynamic stretches.  Most people new to Pilates don't even realize how much they are stretching until they start to see (and feel) the results of increased mobility.

Myth: Pilates is just like every other ab workout.

The Pilates techniques build a strong core, especially the deepest abdominal muscles under the "6-pack abs that are used for stabilization." Joseph Pilates believed that every movement we do is generated first from the core or abdominal muscles.  So when new students ask, "How many core exercises are there?" the answer is, "All of them".

Crunches and sit ups develop the large outer muscles such as the Rectus abdominis that gives you the "six pack abs" look.  Pilates goes deeper to work not only the surface muscles, but the deeper abdominal muscles as well.

These deep muscles, such as the Transverse Abdominus, allow us to stand upright.  They give stability to the spine and pelvic girdle - an essential element in hitting a golf ball straighter.

Many exercises do not isolate the abdominals effectively.  Athletes using their quads to get through their crunch sets will be in for a surprise with Pilates.  When the Pilates equipment isolates the abs from the quads, many people are shocked to find they cannot get up!

Myth: Pilates is a group of special exercises.

Pilates is not a hodge-podge of exercises.  Even specific exercises that Joseph invented, such as The Hundreds, are not Pilates if his techniques are not used.

Pilates is a technique for efficient, natural and pain-free movement.

Golf-specific Pilates exercises are possible because they utilize the Pilates method.  It is even possible to train hard-core gym rats to lift weights (if they must!) utilizing the Pilates technique to achieve better, safer results.

Pilates affects the way you move in life and on the golf course.  It affects the way you walk the course, the way you swing, and the way you putt.  It even applies when you sit to watch the Golf Channel or surf the web for the latest golf gadget.

With practice, the body will eventually naturally move in the Pilates technique without the practitioner even thinking about it.  My husband and I often hike in the Rockies and he will ask how I can keep my abs engaged for miles with elevation gain.  The answer is that I don't even think about it.  It is how I always walk!

Myth: Pilates needs special equipment.

The Pilates equipment is great since it offers built-in resistance. However, you can achieve the same benefits using a ball, foam roller, Theraband and Magic Circle.  There is even a new Hole in One Pilates exercise chair that fits in the same space as an easy chair.

Myth: Pilates is not really "working out".

USA Today August 18, 2003
Schilling, the Arizona Diamondbacks star pitcher, agrees. "The first three weeks, I was really disappointed," says Schilling, who incorporated Pilates into his off-season training program last winter. "I wasn't sweating. I wasn't winded, which is what I associate with true exercise.
"Then in the fourth week I started to understand the Pilates terminology, the idea of working from your center. By the third month I was more powerful and flexible than ever before. And I'd lost 15 pounds."
Curt's experience illustrates several facts.  First, in Pilates we must re-learn how to move. The beginner exercises are easy because you are laying the foundation for more difficult work.

Second, Pilates does not work the muscles to exhaustion. This means you can practice Pilates every day.  Pilates focuses on precise, controlled, perfect movements rather than endless, exhausting mind-numbing exercises.

Third, in Pilates we work the very deep muscles and work to the surface groups.  So you may not feel something.  At first.  But as Curt explained, the results over time are significant.

Myth: Pilates is "something like yoga".

Joseph Pilates was influenced by yoga, as well as other movement styles such as martial arts, Tai Chi, boxing, and calisthenics. Like yoga, Pilates develops strength and flexibility.

Pilates differs from yoga in many ways.  In many types of yoga one "holds a pose".  In Pilates you do not usually hold a position, but rather move through it.

Traditionally, Yoga does not emphasize core strengthening to the degree  Pilates either. Some contemporary Yoga classes do place more emphasis on the core, possibly as a result of Pilates influence.

Pilates does not come from a spiritual tradition.  Many people find it is great stress relief, because Pilates requires thoughtful motion rather than mindless repetition.  One of Joseph's concepts is to execute every motion with focus and intent, something you often hear about hitting a golf ball!

Myth: Pilates is hard for men.

Anything new may be difficult for a body when we start working in a different way.  Guys will say, "I can't do Pilates because I'm not flexible!"  Beginner Pilates work allows you to become more flexible.

I get a lot of good comments about our DVD because next to the Gumby-like Pilates instructor is a real golfer.  As one client put it, "Your DVD has guys that look like me!"

Truth: Pilates will help my golf game

Any Pilates will help improve your golf game.  Hole in One Pilates, developed with Butch Harmon, even includes specific exercises to increase rotation and target tightness caused by the swing.

As Joseph Pilates used to say, "In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in twenty sessions you will see the difference, and in thirty sessions you will have a whole new body!"

Hole in One Pilates ([http://www.HoleinOnePilates.com]) founder Sarah Christensen worked for three years with golf conditioning specialists, Pilates master teachers, physical therapists, and golf teaching professionals to develop a solid program that will help both amateur and professional golfers consistently hit the ball farther and straighter with reduced risk of injury and back pain.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Pilates-Myths-Debunked&id=464418] Pilates Myths Debunked

Nutrition Myth Debunked

Do you want to be in control of your health? 

Behind many food and nutrition myths, there's a kernel of truth, but thanks to the food and pharma industry filling up with trends, fads, and misinformation, there is lots of conflicting nutrition info floating around. 

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But here´s the kicker: 

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Every time you sit down to eat, youre doing one of two things empowering your health, or empowering disease. 

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MP3 Weight Management Institute - The Portion Diet - Lose Weight and Look Great

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Nutrition and Health Benefits from Blueberries

Blueberries are delicious, nutrient-packed powerhouses that provide you with pectin-rich fiber, a good dose of Vitamin C, some Vitamin E, potassium, iron, and many other vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health. If this were not enough, blueberries contain other chemical compounds, called flavonoids, such as tannins, phenols, and anthocyanins, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your body from the damaging effects of compounds present in the body called free radicals, which can lead to cancer, heart disease, and other age-related diseases. Blueberries provide more antioxidant benefits than the vast majority of other fruits.

Want to know more?

Eat smart and discover how to improve your family's health

The Steps to Health program is delivered by county-based educators across North Carolina offering direct-education programs, which are multi-session classes that include taste tests, cooking demonstrations, games, discussion, physical activity and goal setting. Steps to Health also enhances direct education programs by providing support for policy, systems, and environmental change.

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