The Structure House Weight Loss Plan has been years in the making...literally, it has been put in action for 30 years at the actual Structure House, a Durham, N.C.– based residential treatment center for obese adults. 

So why haven't we heard about it?  Founder Dr. Gerard J. Musante wanted to make sure that this residential program could transfer into an effective at home plan...which it can!  

Each of us has a relationship with food. We all need a certain amount of sustenance to stay alive and healthy, but satisfying our needs for nutrition isn't the only reason we eat. From childhood on, every person develops a set of expectations, habits, associations, and states of mind related to food. Our family dynamics, our cultural backgrounds, and our individual attitudes and tastes all influence how this situation develops. We could call the sum total of these expectations, habits, associations, and states of mind our "relationship" with food.

The plan has recieved amazing feedback, including an “outstanding!” from obesity expert Tim Church, MD, on its exercise component (often a weak spot in diet programs). 

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If you're shopping for a fitness buff, check out these cool holiday gift ideas from Shape Magazine.  I personally think that the toning ball is the best gift out of the selection because you can incorporate it into so many different fitness moves at home - like squats, abs and arms. 

You can buy it on Amazon, Toning Ball Workout Kit.

Cost: $26.99

Experts estimate that up to 40 percent of what you pick up at the grocery store is based on impulse. "Those purchases tend to be high in calories and fat, which can sabotage your healthy eating efforts," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Play your cards right with these simple strategies:

Bring a grocery list: Nearly 70 percent of women who make one forget to bring it to the store. Stash your list in your purse or car, or go electronic: Makes your choices on heartcheckmark.org or tadalist.com, then download them to a PDA or phone.

Scan the top and bottom shelves: Many manufacturers pay supermarkets for prime shelf space to showcase their latest products. As a result, many of the healthier foods that are immune to trends aren't located at eye level. "Don't be taken in by fancy displays or packaging. It's important to read the nutrition panel of every item you pick up."

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Fitness magazine is reporting the best bath rituals for all types of exercisers. Hey, even if you don't exercise you should definitely check some of this stuff out!

For Runners: If you feel achy, fill your tub with warm water and a few drops of peppermint or arnica essential oil. Peppermint acts as a mild anesthetic; arnica is an natural anti-inflammatory, says Beverly Hills dermatologist Harold Lancer, M.D. Check out Naturopathica Arnica Muscle & Joint Bath & Body Oils, $32.00. naturopathica.com

Masada Bath Salts, Relaxing Lavender, Dead Sea Mineral, 64 oz (1.814 kg)
For Yogis: As everyone knows, or should know by now, yoga improves circulation and tones muscles. However, it can also leave you feeling overheated-particularly if you practice Bikram, or "hot", yoga. Cool off in a tub filled with tepid water and soothing lavender, which studies show calms nerves, relieves stress and improves blood flow. Use yoga breathing (inhale deeply, exhale slowly) to enhance stress-relieving benefits. Try Masada Bath Salts, Relaxing Lavender, Dead Sea Mineral. 
 
Aveeno Fragrance Free Soothing Bath Treatment, 8-Count Boxes (Pack of 3)
For Hikers: I give you hikers a lot of credit because it is definitely hard work! However, spending hours in the sun and wind can rob skin of moisture and cause chafing. Soften scaly spots and calm irritation with a product that contains colloidal oatmeal, says Dr. Lancer. Try Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment.
I hope you guys use these tips to relax cuz I know I will-workout or not!

If you're tired of the same old boring routine, here's some things to energize your exercise routine. The Roller Slide Abdominal Exerciser is a plastic wheel that you roll while in a modified push-up position. It tones all your midsection muscles, as well as your back, forearms, biceps and shoulders. Here's a move you can try with the ab roller:
Kneel, knees together, arms down, gripping roller. Inhale, then exhale as you roll wheel until hands are beyond your head. Torso should be 3" to 6" above floor. Return to start. Do two sets of reps. 
This Roller slide is totally fast and easy way to shed inches, build muscles, and tone those "hard to" areas of the body. Once you have tried it, you will wonder why something so simple cannot be part of your daily routine. Roller Slide allows you to slim, tone, and firm your muscles in just minutes a day. The dynamically designed Roller Slide works your abs, arms shoulders and waist like no other muscle toning system anywhere. Get ready to lose that bulge, flab and paunch. Build and tone those muscles too.
It definitley beats your ordinary crunches!
If interested click on the link below to purchase.
Roller Slide Abdominal Roller Exerciser

Next time you go to your pilates workout, try using Stott Pilates balls. They are vinyl toning balls that make core moves more challenging. These soft, hand-held weighted balls are perfectly portable and can be incorporated into a variety of exercises that help sculpt strong, healthy muscles without building bulk.
STOTT PILATES exercise focuses on your core - “ your back and abdominal strength. The emphasis on form, specifically your breathing, shoulder movement, pelvic, rib-cage, neck and head placement, helps you build balance in the muscles surrounding your joints. Comprised of smaller, yet more intense movements, STOTT PILATES movements are more precise than traditional exercises, thereby giving you fast and dramatic results.
To learn more about the benefits of Stott Pilates click below.

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With 7 out of 10 adults overweight, the existing obesity epidemic is affecting millions of people around the world. One of the major culprits behind our growing waistlines is increased portion sizes. Over the past thirty years, portion sizes have increased by 30-50%. What's the solution to this deadly disease? - Portion Control.

Researchers found overweight people who spent the most efforts in controlling the portion size of what they ate were more likely to lose weight and keep it off. Although increasing planned exercise also help people shed pounds, researchers found portion control efforts seem to offer the biggest payoff. - MedicineNet.com

Celebrities are already aware of the power of portion control. Stars like Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Kelly Clarkson, and Tori Spelling have all attributed portion control to their weight managment success. This is why I love the new product that I found - PortionPals!
What's the Skinny On PortionPals
PortionPals are a series of translucent discs that provide "users with the exact USDA recommended servings for meat, poultry, fish, sides and dessert". It's simple, place a piece of chicken in the rectangle on the chicken PortionPal, and if it's larger than the rectangle, trim it! Grammy Award winning singer Mya and Brooke Hogan both use PortionPals as a fool proof way to plan out their meals. Here's the best part - they are only $17.95. Finally, a celebrity secret that I can actually afford!

Cost: $17.95
Click here, to purchase your 5-pack of PoritonPals today!
Post A Comment: What do you think the underlying cause of obesity is?How do you control your portion sizes?

Not the most fashionable kicks, we at FitCeleb agree. But the aesthetics of the Swiss-made MBT sneaker certainly have not stopped many a fitness-minded celebrity from buying up these flab-burning running shoes like they're anything-but-going-out-of-style. The sneaks have been spied on the celebrity soles of such fashionistas as Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Heidi Klum, Katherine Heigl, and Ellen Pompeo, who take the MBT promise very seriously. And just what exactly is that promise?
According to Bliss Spa in New York City, one of the many trendy shops selling the shoes, wearing the sneakers for one hour daily improves balance and circulation. Two hours a day improves posture and muscle tone in hips and thighs. A month of regular wear (including workouts) can reduce cellulite and lead to "abs an 18-year-old would envy." Can a sneaker really do that? (Well, for the $200-$300 price tag, we certainly hope so.)
To learn more about these cellulite burning sneakers ...............

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I don't know about your gym, but mine is super cold all year round. I totally get the, "air condition the place so we don't all pass out and/or stink the joint up" - but come on. Sometimes it's so cold, I don't even want to workout. So, I went on a fashion hunt for a cute cover up that was light weight enough to wear in the spring, but offered enough warmth to protect me from the artic like conditions in my gym.
The result of my journey through the endless jungle of fitness fashion - the Patagonia: Women's R1 Flash Pullover ($115) - A versatile, highly breathable cover up (now made with earth-friendly recycled polyester content) for mixed weather conditions. This is my new favorite article of clothing. I wear it when I first enter the gym, and I take it off once I complete my warm up.
The Patagonia: Women's R1 Flash Pullover ($115) is available at www.altrec.com
Post A Comment: What do you think of today's "FitCeleb Fashion Find"?

Shape Up Your Bookshelf with any of these 4 diet books. Choose the book that fits your lifestyle. There are so many diets out there these days, I can't keep track anymore. The March Issue of Self lists four diet books along with some helpful information about each one:

The Wall Street Diet by Heather Bauer, R.D. and Kathy Matthews
Ideal For: Workaholics
Concept: For extremely busy people who don't cook. This diet even has helpful tips for making a healthy meal out of a Starbucks visit.
Break Through Your Set Point by George Blackburn, M.D.
Ideal for: Dieters who can't reach their goal.
Concept: ""Reset" your weight by losing 10 percent, holding steady for 6 months to create a new norm, then starting to lose again."
The Writing Diet by Julia Cameron
Ideal For: Creative Emotional eaters
Concept: Part diet, part therapy. Write down what you think eat time you eat (and whenever you want to eat). Break through those feelings that send you to the fridge.
The Snack Factor Diet by Keri Glassman, R.D.
Ideal For: Between-meal pickers
Concept: Snacking ruins your appetite for a reason. "Three small meals and 2 nutritious snacks a day will ensure you're never starving."

Post A Comment:  Has anyone tried any of these? Do any of them seem appealing to you?
If any of these books interest you click on the link below.
WALL STREET DIET, THE: The Surprisingly Simple Weight Loss Plan for Hardworking People Who Don't Have Time to Diet
Break Through Your Set Point: How to Finally Lose the Weight You Want and Keep It Off
The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size
The Snack Factor Diet: The Secret to Losing Weight--by Eating MORE