She’s only 19 years old and already an icon of the new generation of musicians. Taylor Swift is also a role model for girls all around the world, being the epitome of talent, elegance, class and common sense. Many say that, despite her age, Swift is more mature than most adults in today’s showbiz, and this also applies to her approach to a healthy lifestyle, as her latest interview with Allure magazine clearly shows.

On a final note, when she’s not singing or training, Taylor shares she’s blogging or signing autographs. For an artist with her level of success and popularity, this one country singer proves to be extremely well-grounded, saying that she knows she is who she is because of her fans, and this is why she’s going out of her way not to lose contact with them. “I never would have sold any records if my fans hadn’t gone out and bought them. It’s so incredible to go out and sign autographs for nine hours straight. That’s just my favorite thing to do, honestly.” Swift explains for Allure.

Angelina Jolie had to be in tip-top shape for her role as a kick-ass CIA agent on the run in the action thriller Salt. So what was the stunning A-lister’s celebrity weight loss plan? She ate about five small meals a day and stuck to a diet of 70% carbs and 30% protein–and actually avoided cardio–to help “put muscle on without losing weight,” says trainer Simon Crane, who worked with the actress to get in top form for the film.

Once shooting began, they took training down a notch by squeezing in four weekly sessions over lunch breaks and weekends, and altered her diet to 60% carbs and 40% protein. And forget about any fear of heights: ”She loves doing action,” says Crane.

(Source: PeopleStyleWatch.com)

Many of my weight loss clients will admit to being professional dieters. They’ve tried every weight loss plan, scheme or promise and failed miserably over and over again. And 9 times out of 10, their attempts flop because of one–or some combination–of the four reasons I discuss below. That being said, awareness is key and if you know what mistakes to watch out for, you’re already a step ahead of the pack. Here’s what you need to know–and can do–to immediately boost your chance of success.

Don’t dwell on your mistakes. Instead, shake it off and get right back on track at your very next meal… or the very next day. And always remember, nobody gains weight from one rich dinner or a single slice of cake. The real trouble starts when you allow that one “splurge” to snowball into an all-out eating frenzy. Take it one meal at a time and learn to forgive yourself; every dieter has slip-ups, but the successful ones know how to keep those occasional lapses contained.

Americans spend twice as much as residents of other developed countries on healthcare, but get lower quality, less efficiency and have the least equitable system, according to a newly-released report.

(Source: Reuters.com)

The United States ranked last when compared to six other countries — Britain, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, the Commonwealth Fund report found.

“As an American it just bothers me that with all of our know-how, all of our wealth, that we are not assuring that people who need healthcare can get it,” Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis told reporters in a telephone briefing.

Previous reports by the nonprofit fund, which conducts research into healthcare performance and promotes changes in the U.S. system, have been heavily used by policymakers and politicians pressing for healthcare reform.

Davis said she hoped health reform legislation passed in March would lead to improvements.

The current report uses data from nationally representative patient and physician surveys in seven countries in 2007, 2008, and 2009. It is available here

In 2007, health spending was $7,290 per person in the United States, more than double that of any other country in the survey.

Australians spent $3,357, Canadians $3,895, Germans $3,588, the Netherlands $3,837 and Britons spent $2,992 per capita on health in 2007. New Zealand spent the least at $2,454.

This is a big rise from the Fund’s last similar survey, in 2007, which found Americans spent $6,697 per capita on healthcare in 2005, or 16 percent of gross domestic product.

“We rank last on safety and do poorly on several dimensions of quality,” Schoen told reporters. “We do particularly poorly on going without care because of cost. And we also do surprisingly poorly on access to primary care and after-hours care.”

NETHERLANDS RANKED FIRST OVERALL

The report looks at five measures of healthcare — quality, efficiency, access to care, equity and the ability to lead long, healthy, productive lives.

Britain, whose nationalized healthcare system was widely derided by opponents of U.S. healthcare reform, ranks first in quality while the Netherlands ranked first overall on all scores, the Commonwealth team found.

U.S. patients with chronic conditions were the most likely to say they gotten the wrong drug or had to wait to learn of abnormal test results.

“The findings demonstrate the need to quickly implement provisions in the new health reform law,” the report reads.

Critics of reports that show Europeans or Australians are healthier than Americans point to the U.S. lifestyle as a bigger factor than healthcare. Americans have higher rates of obesity than other developed countries, for instance.

“On the other hand, the other countries have higher rates of smoking,” Davis countered. And Germany, for instance, has a much older population more prone to chronic disease.

Every other system covers all its citizens, the report noted and said the U.S. system, which leaves 46 million Americans or 15 percent of the population without health insurance, is the most unfair.

“The lower the performance score for equity, the lower the performance on other measures. This suggests that, when a country fails to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, it also fails to meet the needs of the average citizen,” the report reads.

If you need a hand whipping your body into shape quickly, there are few better people to turn to than Jillian Michaels.  Her exercise DVD Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred is flying off the shelves.  Jillian Michaels’ workout and diet is also on display on “The Biggest Loser” and her new show “Losing it with Jillian.”

We recently spoke with the fitness trainer about a common struggle: managing belly fat (it is summer, after all). Here are her top five tips, in her own words:

1. A big part of ab definition is managing water weight. This means that you should reduce your sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams a day and up your water intake to 80 ounces a day. The more water you drink, the less water you will hold.

2. Eat foods that are high in potassium (like watermelon). This will help you reduce bloat, giving definition to your abs. Other things to try: cranberry juice mixed with water, dandelion tea, asparagus, and try taking a couple teaspoons a day of apple cider vinegar. This vinegar helps to maintain healthy levels of potassium in your body.

3. You can spot-reduce belly fat, but you have to engage in a regimen that burns body fat. This means counting calories so that you are burning excess body fat.

4. When you hit the gym, go hard. Work at 85 percent of your maximum heart rate for optimal fat-shedding results. Try workouts that are core-based and use multiple muscle groups, like mixed martial arts or Yoga flow.

5. Avoid processed foods, alcohol, and lack of sleep. Those three things increase cortisol levels, which is one of the hormones believed responsible for storing belly fat.

Jillian’s on her own this summer, starring in a new show, “Losing It With Jillian.” The premise is simple: Jillian travels across the United States, helping families who are desperately in need of health and wellness improvement. Sure, she is dominant and occasionally yells (it’s her signature method for motivation), but she is also kind, encouraging, and very insightful. Just like its sister show, this one is sure to inspire America.

(Source: TV.Yahoo.com and YouTube.com)

Bathing suit season isn’t too far off, which means it’s the perfect time to start developing the flat, sexy tummy! Here are some abdominal exercises to do at home!

(Self.com)

You don’t have to give up your favorite foods to lose weight, you can have flavor and fitness! Here’s how…

(Yahoo News) Even if you eat healthy all the time, you’re bound to experience the occasional hankering for something that’s not exactly waistline-friendly. The fact is, you can and should indulge every so often. I know when I ignore my need for chocolate, I end up settling on a second-rate substitute–and then the chocolate wins me over later anyway, sometimes in quantities I’m not exactly proud of.

The good news is you can treat yourself to smarter, more sensible options that taste equally delicious. Next time you have a yen for something yummy, try these healthy swaps to keep you satisfied morning, noon or night.

YOU CRAVE: A chocolate cream-filled doughnut (307 calories, 20.8 grams fat)
TRY INSTEAD: A plain glazed doughnut (239 calories, 11.5 g fat) or a raised sugar doughnut (205 calories, 11 g fat)

You’ll save 60 to 100 calories and nearly 10 g fat but still get a sweet treat to go with your morning joe. (Also, try cutting it in half or quarters and slowly eat it in bits to see if you even want the whole thing!)

YOU CRAVE: Bacon and eggs (461 calories, 35.4 g fat)
TRY INSTEAD: Two slices of bacon with two small whole-grain pancakes and 2 tablespoons syrup (364 calories, 12.4 g fat)

This sensible substitute allows you to eat breakfast like a champ without chomping a third of your fat for the day. Or be even more virtuous and opt for an egg-white omelet instead of the pancakes.

YOU CRAVE: Potato chips (155 calories, 10.6 g fat per ounce, about 15 chips)
TRY INSTEAD: Lighter baked chips (84 calories, 3.2 g fat)

The same crunch as you munch with about half the calories and a third of the fat.

YOU CRAVE: French fries (537 calories, 28 g fat per 6-oz order)
TRY INSTEAD: Baked frozen fries (260 calories, 7 g fat per 6 oz)

Skip the drive-thru and hightail it to your freezer–you’ll save calories, fat and cash. Try sweet potato varieties for a dose of skin-smoothing and vision-helping vitamin A. If you’re out and ordering a burger, ask for salad instead of fries on the side, and try to retrain your brain to not need a side of fries with that burger meal.

YOU CRAVE: Chocolate milk shake (544 calories, 12.3 g fat per 16 oz)
TRY INSTEAD: Chocolate smoothie (372 calories, 5.4 g fat)

Whip up this calcium rich alternative at home: Blend 2 cups lowfat milk, 1 frozen banana, 1 tbsp chocolate syrup and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in a blender. Delicious! You can also try simply having a cup of skim milk with 1 tbsp of chocolate syrup for 141 calories and just over 1/2 gram of fat!

Country crooner Carrie Underwood is a longtime vegetarian, but knows that being meat-free isn’t one of those guaranteed quick weight loss tips. “Think of all the pasta you can eat, the pizza. You can do nachos and all sorts of cheesy things,” she told SELF. So how does she stay slim? Here are Carrie Underwood’s diet secrets:

1. Eat for energy. “If I eat too much before a show, I just want to sit down. Too little, and I’m starving. So I eat something small, like Quorn, a tasty meat-free protein, and green beans.”

2. Keep a food diary. Carrie has been tracking her intake for three years! She counts her calories on a regular basis, to see how it all adds up. “Once you realize, it’s like, ‘No wonder I’ve plateaued! No wonder I’ve been gaining weight!’” she says. “Little things really do add up.”

3. Enjoy your favorite foods, healthfully. In 2007 Carrie told SELF “My food indulgences are pizza, and I love… cheese. I have a big problem controlling myself with the cheese.” Two years later, it looks like she found a way to have her pizza and eat it too! Here’s her recipe favorite formula for a healthy, 250-calorie personal pizza: 1 Flatout wrap with 1/4 cup sauce, 1/2 cup fat-free or 2% cheese and loaded up with veggies.

4. Cut the sugar. “My sugar intake is way down, and I have a lot fewer breakouts. Now when I drink tea, it’s unsweetened. Or I’ll have water,” the start told SELF. “Also, I’m off soda. For so long, I’d have a Diet Coke with breakfast!”

Sure, you can probably tone up pretty quickly taking a Louisville slugger to headlights and slashing tires but it turns out that is not the way country idol Carrie Underwood maintains her rockin’ bod. Here are some of the slim and sexy superstar’s favorite fitness secrets:

1.) Make exercise accessible. “I have Exercise TV on cable. Jillian Michaels’s videos will kick your butt. She’s my trainer, and she doesn’t even know it!”

2.) Work toward an event. “Everybody has things they want to look nice for: anniversary, birthday, reunion. I’ll think to myself, Oh, that award show is coming up. Or, I have a photo shoot in four days! It’s nice to set goals.”

3.) Revel in success. “I love it when I feel good about myself. I’ll look at a photo and think, My arms look great!–and then I go work out my arms. Once you’re enjoying things about your body, you realize how much you want to keep them that way or make them better.”

4.) Favorite ab improver: “When I gain weight, it’s in the spare-tire area. I’ve told trainers abs are a physical impossibility for me. And every single time, they’re like, ‘Well, we’ll get you abs!’ So do I have them? No! But they’re as flat as they’re probably going to get. Push-ups work out everything. If you do them right, you’ll feel it in your abs. I do four sets of 10 to 20.”

Behind the Scenes: Carrie Underwood Cover Shoot

The singer rolled up to the set in sweatpants and brought her own snacks: a sandwich, a cup of tea and a bag of baby carrots. Carrie loooved the colorful options SELF’s fashion team brought to the shoot (check out what goes into creating the cover look!), but despite the glam treatment from our hair and makeup team, she admitted that she’s more comfortable out of the spotlight. When is she most confident? Watch our exclusive behind the scenes video from the shoot to find out!

(Source: SELF Magazine)

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How do you maintain a healthy diet? That was the question asked to Jennifer Love Hewitt by Shape Magazine. Things have changed quite a bit since last year when those unflattering Jennifer Love Hewitt photos in a swimsuit hit the web and she was the butt of jokes (no pun intended). At the time she said, “I’m happy with my body.” Apparently she wasn’t happy enough and lost quite a bit of weight. Here is how she did it…

Jennifer Love Hewitt may be rockin’ a bikini on our cover, but she has the same insecurities as every woman. “I’m a girl, after all!” says the 30-year-old actress. “For the most part, yeah, I’m happy with my body, but there are days when I’m like, ‘Ugh! Really? Why is it so hard to fit into my jeans?’

That’s when I say to myself, ‘I look this way because I’m supposed to. If we all looked the same, we’d be boring.’” Here, she reveals her stay-healthy-and-happy strategies as well as her work out that she uses to stay slim and confident.

Put your fridge on a diet To keep her food choices healthy and fresh, Jennifer hits the super-market every two days. “Instead of piling up food in my fridge that says ‘Come eat me!’ I keep enough for only a couple of days.

And I rarely have treats around that might tempt me late at night, which is when I usually crave something really fattening. What am I going to do? Drive out at 11 at night just to satisfy a craving? No, that’s crazy.”

Always eat lunch It’s no secret that over the last few years, young actresses have become fixated on being super thin, a trend Jennifer finds really disturbing. “Hollywood used to revolve around women with curves, like Liz Taylor and Marilyn Monroe,” she says.

“But now it’s so different. Not that long ago, I went to this celebrity luncheon, and I was the only person in the room eating. The other girls looked at me like I hadn’t gotten the memo, but I was hungry! All of these girls were afraid that if someone saw them eating, it would be a disaster. It makes no sense at all.”

(Source: Shape Magazine)

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How much does Britney Spears weigh? Well, she recent lost 20 pounds in four weeks! How did she do it? OK! Magazine recently revealed Britney Spears’ bikini ab workout and beach body diet secrets!

The sexy mom of Sean, 3, and Jayden, 2, can credit her slamming new body in part to the Sunfare diet, a gourmet meal delivery company. Sunfare, which counts stars such as Eva Longoria Parker, Marcia Cross and Khloe Kardashian among its fans, incorporates a balanced, low-carb approach of three big meals and two snacks per day, all documented through the delivery system.

“When Britney is on Sunfare, she consumes approximately 1,100 to 1,200 calories per day,” a source reveals to OK!.

Britney doesn’t eat fruit or have fruit juice because of its sugar content. Instead, her meals consist of chicken, salmon, avocados and rice. Breakfast at the Pop Princess’ table would be egg whites and has turkey burgers for lunch limiting her total caloric intake to 1,200 calories per day.

She says “it may not sound like it’s much but it’s actually a lot of food if you eat the right things.” She has foregone the frappuccinos she used to enjoy so much but she admits to still drinking coffee.

The other major factor behind Brit’s renewed physique is good old-fashioned hard work in the dance studio and on stage. “Her outlet is dance,” the longtime friend says. “She’s still dancing at least two hours a day and sometimes she’ll rehearse up to eight hours a day.”

Still, says another insider, “It didn’t come easy. It was a long, hard road. Britney dedicated herself in such a focused way. We are all so proud of her, not just for her physical achievements but also for her mental and emotional ones.”

(Source: OK! Magazine)

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