Health and Beauty - THE REASONS BEHIND CELEBRITY YO-YO DIETERS
THE REASONS BEHIND CELEBRITY YO-YO DIETERS
TOP TRAINER TO THE STARS OFFERS USEFUL ADVICE FOR A HEALTHIER AND FITTER LIFESTYLE – AND VALUABLE TIPS TO LOSE THOSE EXTRA KILOS THE REASONS BEHIND CELEBRITY YO-YO DIETERS
We're used to seeing celebs slim down to reveal trim, bikini-perfect bodies, but some stars seem to go through more than their fair share of miraculous transformations. Yo-yo dieting is common in Hollywood as A-listers repeatedly shed the pounds for film roles and music videos, before piling them straight back on. But why do some stars have such trouble sticking to their diets?
JANET JACKSON As infamous for her rock-hard six-pack abs as her bloated body after piling on the pounds, Janet Jackson has yo-yo dieted throughout her career. During her Superbowl performance with Justin Timberlake in 2004 the pop diva showed off her slim figure in a tight-fitting leather costume, but was spotted in early 2006 looking overweight and unhealthy. A few months later Janet appeared on the cover of Us magazine after losing over 60 pounds (27 kilograms). However, her chiseled stomach did not last long.
Diet busters − Fasting
In an attempt to slim down quickly for upcoming videos or tours, Janet goes months without eating anything other than salads and drinking water. As soon as the publicity fades she binges on anything in sight, ballooning in weight before fasting again.
Diet solution
Fasting actually causes your body to stop burning fat, as it clings on to as much as it can in the absence of food. Your metabolism will also slow down, meaning you are likely to put on more weight than you previously had. The best way to speed up your metabolism is to eat little and often throughout the day. This will also prevent hunger pangs, meaning you won’t be tempted to binge on snacks.
JESSICA SIMPSON After releasing her first album, a teenage Jessica Simpson followed the Atkins diet to drop a dress size and tone her body. She ditched the diet before her wedding to Nick Lachey, but began to shed pounds rapidly as interest in her Newlyweds persona grew. In 2004 Jessica again dropped carbs and sugars from her diet and trained with weights every day to achieve her Daisy Duke figure in Dukes of Hazzard. But after a very public divorce the star ballooned to reach her heaviest weight yet.
Diet busters − Binging
Speaking out against the Atkins diet, Jessica said starving herself of carbohydrates caused her to binge and made her ill. Like most young stars, she was affected by the pressure of being in the public eye.
Diet solution
Restricting too much from your diet will result in binging when you resume your usual eating habits. Try to make changes that you can live with, like swapping white breads and pasta for wholemeal. By making realistic changes to your lifestyle you'll be less likely to relapse into old habits. Don’t be put under pressure by others. If you decide to lose weight make sure it’s for your own reasons. Similarly, don’t be embarrassed to choose healthier options when eating with friends.
KIRSTIE ALLIE After losing a massive five stone (32 kilograms) in 2006, it looks like Kirstie Alley has fallen off the diet wagon again. Recent pictures show that the former Cheers star has ballooned from a size 12 up to a size 18. After a long struggle with her weight, Kirstie reached 15 stone, seven pounds (98 kilograms) before deciding to try the Jenny Craig program. But she has recently stepped down as their spokeswoman after piling on the pounds.
Diet busters − Cravings
Kirstie struggles to beat cravings when trying to stick to a diet plan. Reaching for processed and sugary treats in between meals means that “hidden” calories soon build up.
Diet solution
To avoid grabbing sweet treats in between meals, keep a box of blueberries or grapes handy. Reaching for vitamin-packed sweet fruit fuels the body without spoiling meals or your hard-earned figure. Try keeping a food diary. By taking note of what you eat each day, you’ll realise how many extra calories you’re eating form unnecessary snacks.
BRITNEY SPEARS After becoming pregnant with her first son Sean Preston, the once size 6 pop princess gorged on snacks until barely recognisable, before quickly shedding more than 25 pounds (11 kilograms) in five weeks. After the birth of second child Jayden James, Britney turned to diet pills to try to shed the pounds but failed to reach her desired weight before her anticipated “comeback” at the Video Music Awards last year.
Diet busters − Comfort eating
A notorious junk-food addict, Britney Spears is almost always snapped carrying creamy iced coffees and packets of crisps. Over the past couple of years she has sacked her personal trainer and turned to food when she’s feeling low.
Diet solution
Many people use food to make them feel better, but often eating fatty foods can leave you feeling bloated and worse afterwards. It is much better to try to address the problems behind the comfort eating. Increasing your daily exercise triggers the body's release of endorphins, which can fight off depression as well as making you feel much healthier. Try to listen to your body and only eat when you are hungry.
CREDIT: 20 MINUTES OF KICKBOXING = DEBIT: 1 x MR KIPLING CHERRY BAKEWELL TART (foto en servidor y mandado por email)
TOP PRODUCT −CHUNG CHI SHOES Favoured by the likes of Jerry Hall and Erin O’Connor, who are known for their fine deportment, the Chung Shi shoe uses a built-in Pilates system to help improve posture, strengthen core muscles and activate the reflexology zones in your feet. The shoes also help to ease lower back pain or the aches that come with standing or walking for long periods of time. Available in black, white and blue, Chung Shi shoes start at £129. Visit www.ljmsports.co.uk
DID YOU KNOW? Thirty three per cent is how much less food you scoff when you eat at the table rather than on the run, says the journal Appetite. Why? Because your brain registers eating sitting down as a proper meal.
WHAT’S NEW Fitmusic.com… offers downloadable tracks specifically to work out to. The key is to choose a song with the same “beats per minute” as your optimum exercising heart rate.
TWO-MINUTE TIPWhen you have the urge to eat a packet of Haribo stikes, sniff some peppermint oil. A new US study found the smell tricks your brain into thinking you’ve eaten something sweet.
AND FINALLY…Ensure you make time to go for a walk every day. Just three 10-minute walks a day, plus an hour at the weekend, burns 1,620 calories in seven days – that’s enough to lose half a pound a week!
For more information on losing weight and getting fit and healthy visit: www.nickiwaterman.com or www.virtualgym.tv
