Just last weekend Cher was out in here infamous sheer black bodysuit while attending the David Foster and Friends concert in Las Vegas.  The 62-year-old wore a similar bodysuit 20 years ago in the ‘Turn Back Time’ video.  In her last Oprah interview she said that it “sucks” getting old and that she has to work harder than ever to get into her costumes for the stage.  She also explained that she has to remember to eat,

“It’s not that good for you because it slows down your metabolism,” she told Winfrey. “You can get fat just doing that.”

She did go on to tell Oprah that when it’s time for her to lose weight she is completely dedicated and is conscious about everything she eats.  She puts herself on an exercise plan and eats seven small meals a day.  She told Oprah that she practices,

“running and walking and … the Power Plate.”

She looks absolutely stunning.  Women like Cher should be an inspiration to all women because they prove that with some dedication we can all ‘Turn Back Time,’ or maybe just slow it down a bit!

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Last week fashion legend and Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, told 60 Minutes that back in 1998 she told Oprah Winfrey to lose 20 pounds in order to be on the cover of the magazine.  She explained,

“It was a very gentle suggestion,” she said, laughing. “I went to Chicago to visit Oprah, and I suggested that it might be an idea that she lose a little bit of weight.  I said simply that you might feel more comfortable. She was a trooper!”

Oprah did heed her advice because when she was on the cover the tagline read: “Oprah! A Major Movie, An Amazing Makeover.”  Wintour continued,

“She totally welcomed the idea, and she went on a very stringent diet and it was one of our most successful covers ever.”

Also in the interview, Wintour defended the use of Photoshop in magazine photos:

“That’s one of the things that makes me rather angry, that I don’t understand,” she said. “That if you look wonderful, does that make you less important? Less powerful? Less serious?”

Wintour did go on to say that more awareness needs to occur in the US in regard to healthy eating and the risks attached to obesity.  She explained,

“I’d just been on a trip to Minnesota, where I can only kindly describe most of the people I saw as little houses.  There’s such an epidemic of obesity in the United States, and for some reason, everybody focuses on anorexia.  We need to spend money time and education on teaching people to eat, exercise and take care of themselves in a healthier way,” she said. “It [has gotten people] provoked, which is really the point.”

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Last week, the former The View co-host, Star Jones talked with Oprah Winfrey about her gastric-bypass surgery and the ups and downs that came along with it.  The 47-year-old said,

“I’m still 300 lbs. in my head some days.”

She admitted that even the morning of the show, she was concerned about the  topic of surgery during the interview.  She said,

“I was a little late getting up [today], and I’m always up at 6:00 a.m. But I realized that we were gonna talk about this and it scared me a bit.”

When Oprah asked why she was so scared, she said,

“Disappointing people. I was ashamed … That’s the word that is actually the real word. I was ashamed that I couldn’t control my weight, that I was an addict for all practical purposes, that I had never stuck to a real diet, that I’d never stuck to a real exercise program.”

As for why she chose gastric-bypass surgery she explained what her doctor had told her a few years ago,

“If you don’t make changes, you will die.” Her reaction? “I had no choice,” she admits. “When you hear people say, ‘Oh, you took the easy way out,’ I would have longed for an easy way. It was not an easy way.”

Star Jones also explained that she feels her weight loss indirectly contributed to losing her seat on The View,

“I was hurt and upset initially.  I’m so sorry that I placed a burden on my colleagues. I never asked them to lie and don’t know where the Pilates and portion control came from” – an explanation that the media circulated at the time – “I think a tabloid actually wrote that.”

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America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, stars on the cover of O Magazine this month.  Oprah Winfrey had an exclusive interview at the White House where she got to hear all about Mrs. Obama’s lifestyle.  When talking about diet and exercise, a lot was to be said about eating a well-balanced and natural diet and getting in daily exercise in order to be strong and energized when having such a busy schedule.  A year ago, while still on the campaign trail, Mrs. Obama said the family made the decision to eat well on the road.  She said,

“When we first started running, my big concern was making sure we ate well on the road. So we started looking at our diet, trying to eliminate junk, getting seasonal fruits and vegetables that were grown locally. We walked the kids through reading labels. We talked about why one juice might be better than another.”

Because of this change there were a lot of foods that the family had to give up which was a change for the better for everyone in the family.  Mrs Obama explained,

“Things with artificial ingredients. That’s a tough change for a lot of families, though, because so many foods aren’t real anymore. But lots of people don’t have access to a farmers’ market, or can’t afford to shop at one, so this is a bigger issue. It’s really big, because changing your diet makes such a difference. I’ve seen it in my own family. We have more energy. And I caught only one cold during the last year of the campaign, even after shaking millions of hands!”

Later in the interview, Oprah Winfrey asked if she continues to workout in the White House:

“Yes. There’s a small gym here that has everything we need. I work out about four or five days a week—and Barack does six. He’s a workout zealot…. I do treadmill, I do weights—I also do some jump rope, some kickboxing—and I’d like to take up Pilates, if I could figure out whether there’s time. After I had Malia, I began to prioritize exercise because I realized that my happiness is tied to how I feel about myself. I want my girls to see a mother who takes care of herself, even if that means I have to get up at 4:30 so I can do a workout.”

When asked why she wakes up so incredibly early in order to exercise, Mrs. Obama had a very interesting response:

“Well, I just started thinking, if I had to get up to go to work, I’d get up and go to work. If I had to get up to take care of my kids, I’d get up to do that. But when it comes to yourself, then it’s suddenly, “Oh, I can’t get up at 4:30.” So I had to change that. If I don’t exercise, I won’t feel good. I’ll get depressed. Of course, it’s easier to do it here, because I have much more support now. But I always think about women who don’t have support. That’s why work-family balance isn’t just a policy conversation; it’s about changing the expectations of who we have to be as women and parents.”

The First Lady is true inspiration to us all.

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Oprah Winfrey, an inspiration for women around the globe, still struggles with her roller coaster weight gains and losses. It seems just like yesterday when we saw her at a healthy 160 pounds in 2006. But once again, Oprah has put on weight and she confessed in the January issue of her “O Magazine” that she has gained 20 pounds over the past couple of years and she now weighs 200 pounds. This weight, combined with her height, gave her a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 31.8 and according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention this is considered not just overweight, but obese.

Fortunately, she has already taken action and in the same month she confessed her weight gain issues in her magazine she launched a new program on her television show called “Best Life.” With “Best Life,” participants on her website and on her show receive expert advice on all aspects of leading a healthy lifestyle. She addresses a wide array of issues such as healthy eating, exercise, as well as mental and spiritual health.

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It’s time to review the good, the bad and the ugly in celeb diets of 2008. First a brief recap of 2007. The picks for 2007 were for the most part right on. As predicted, Kirstie Alley did in fact fall off the wagon with Jenny Craig. No surprise, Ricki Lake continues to shine with her remarkable weight loss success as she adopted some key weight loss behaviors. Capping a remarkable turnaround for 2008, Britney went from the worst celebrity diet list of 2007 to the best celebrity diet list this year proving that you are what you eat.

This brings me to theme for the year in celebrity diets of 2008, specifically that “diets don’t work.” The key to sustainable weight loss is not so much a particular diet but the adoption of the proper lifestyle behaviors. It’s the reason why Oprah can’t achieve sustainable weight loss despite trying multiple diets and having all the resources in the world (personal chef, trainer, Dr Oz etc).

You’ll also noticed that this year’s winners all have one thing in common as they develop their new lifestyle dietary behaviors. They achieved their remarkable slim downs by increasing their intake of veggies and fruits. No crazy fasts, diet pills, supplements or miracle cures. Here’s to 2009 and hopefully you’ll find some inspiration from this year’s crop of winners. Enjoy and be healthy, Dr Marc

Best Celebrity Diets for 2008:
5. Jennifer Love Hewitt: Those unflattering bikini photos seem so long ago as this Ghost Whisperer star has been letting her body speak loud and clear; daily fruits and veggies do a body good.

4. Jessica Alba: Jessica exercised her superhero abilities on a regimen of whole foods, cardio and interval training to power her fantastic 25 pound post-pregnancy slim down.

3. Debra Messing: Eating gracefully, Debra lost 42 pounds of her post-baby weight by sticking to a diet high in unprocessed veggies, fruits and lean protein.

2. Kelly Osbourne: By fixing her refined carb cravings with her new addiction to veggies and fruits, Kelly Osbourne is reborn with a healthy new figure.

1. Britney Spears: Since ditching her “Toxic” junk food diet for veggies and lean protein, Britney is sporting a new outlook and an A-list slim down that has everyone wanting “A Piece of Me.”

And the Worst Celebrity Diets for 2008:
5. Carnie Wilson: Carnie proves that even gastric bypass is not a fix for sabotaging behaviors. Despite her much publicized surgery and weight loss, this Celebrity Fit Club participant regained 58 pounds. (Her yo-yo dieting continues; she most recently lost 50 pounds before her current pregnancy.)

4. Monica Seles: This former tennis star may have lost 33 pounds on a high protein diet but she also increased her risk of chronic disease. Advantage: heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.

3. Hilary Swank: 47 ways to sub-optimal health. Reportedly downing 47 “million dollar” supplements a day, this Million Dollar Baby star is unwittingly subjecting her body to accelerated aging.

2. Kim Kardashian: Kim has kept her shapely “junk in the trunk” figure with exercise and a gig on Dancing with The Stars. However, her junk food diet will inevitably cause… too much junk.

1. Oprah Winfrey: The queen of media and yo-yo dieter is the poster child for “diets don’t work.” Proper weight loss behaviors and habits should be one of Oprah’s “favorite things.”

First I just want to say I love Dr Oz. He rocks! However, I just heard Dr Oz, a frequent contributor on Oprah, give some pretty dubious advice on weight loss. He’s a cardiovascular surgeon which explains why he always seems to have that “I just walked out of the operating room look.” He has also authored a book with Dr Roizen, the “You on a Diet” which I have reviewed previously.

There is an incredible amount of misinformation about diet and weight loss so when I see some bad advice given by someone so influential as Dr Oz… well it’s time for the Celebrity Diet Doctor to speak up:) So what’s his weight loss advice that will get you fat?

On yesterday’s Oprah show, Dr Oz recommended that you should eat whole grain bread soaked in  olive oil before your meals….. whoaaaaa (%%^#(@^%!!!!!.

Dr Oz’s theory is that the olive oil with bread slows food passage. This helps fill you up so you eat less during your meal, saving calories and resulting in weight loss. Interesting theory, but this strategy is absolutely the wrong thing to do. Think about it. What you’re doing here is filling up on highly calorie dense foods first. So yes you’ll eat less of your meal, but you’ve just taken in at least a 200 calorie food bolus that will result in more overall calories consumed. This is what makes Italian restaurants a minefield. Many people fill up on bread soaked in olive oil, before their meals, which is a surefire recipe for a bulging waistline. The bottom line is bread plus olive oil before your meals equals weight gain. So what’s the answer?

Of course, do the exact opposite of what Dr Oz recommends. Start your meal with a low calorie food first, such as an apple. In fact people who consumed an apple 15 minutes before a meal consumed 190 less calories overall. The moral of this story. Consume low calorie foods such as fruit, veggies, salads and soups first. This is the key to weight loss. My advice is to eat an apple and call me in the morning…

Oprah Winfrey has confirmed speculation that she has gained weight, posting on her website that she has hypothyroidism which caused her to gain 20 lbs.

“My body was turning on me. First hyperthyroidism, which sped up my metabolism and left me unable to sleep for days. (Most people lose weight. I didn’t.) Then hypothyroidism, which slowed down my metabolism and made me want to sleep all the time. (Most people gain weight. I did! Twenty pounds!) “

The thyroid is a small gland located in the front of your neck that regulates your metabolism. When your thyroid is overactive it is called hyperthyroidism and it can cause heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping, nervousness, light menstrual periods, intolerance to heat, muscle weakness and weight loss. On the other hand, when the thyroid is under-active it is called hypothyroidism and it causes fatigue, weakness, coarse skin, depression, abnormal menstrual periods, decreased sex drive, hair loss, constipation, intolerance to cold and weight gain.

First off, I am not Oprah’s doctor, nor have I ever treated her, however her experience is quite common. Patients who are treated for hyperthyroidism, or over-active thyroid, with anti-thyroid mediation or radioactive iodine frequently gain weight, typically gaining about 8 lbs.  For patients who subsequently develop hypothyroidism following treatment, their weight gain is usually more so Oprah’s weight gain of 20 lbs is not surprising. As in Oprah’s case, if patients are overweight to begin with or have a history of weight loss, they also more likely to gain weight when treated.

Oprah mentioned that her overactive thyroid didn’t cause weight loss. Many patients don’t have weight loss because their over-active thyroid makes them more hungry so they take in greater calories, which more than offsets their increased metabolism. It’s also important to note that hyperthyroidism also causes loss of metabolically active muscle mass. and each pound of muscle burns up to 50 calories per pound/day. So when patients with an overactive thyroid are treated, the are especially prone to weight gain because not only will the medications and treatment lower their metabolism but they also don’t have as much muscle mass to burn off calories.

Oprah is going to have to be doubly vigilant with what she eats and weight training is a good idea to help build up her lost muscle mass. Kudos to Oprah for being so candid about her recent weight gain. Hopefully her experience can help others. You can check out her post.

Ralph Notaro/Getty Images;David Tsay
Nick Carter, the former Back Street boy heart throb, is back after losing 44 lbs according to US weekly. He tipped the scales at 224 lbs last year while on his reality series, House of Carters. He says, “I’d become depressed. Something deep down inside of me said, I’m tired of being this person, and I’m a good looking guy!” Nick is now near his goal weight of 175 lbs dropping his waist size from 38 to 34. How did he do it?

Nick Carter’s Diet
He eats every 3 hours and limits calories to 1,400 per day which includes lots of power bars and salads. He also limits alcohol intake, but does allow himself a cheat day for ice cream.

Nick Carter’s Workout
At the start, he hit the gym 6 days a week lifting weights and using the elliptical. Since March he began working out with a trainer, Mike Hazard. His regimen now includes weights, boxing, and cardio workouts 5 times a week.

Celebrity Diet Doctor Weigh in
Nick was very aware of every calorie he consumed. In addition to counting calories, he used a food journal to keep track. This is one of the most effective weight loss strategies. Studies show that the more you journal your food intake the more weight you’re likely to lose. Limiting alcohol, which contains beau coup calories, was another smart move. Check out Nick’s video clip describing his weight loss.

He told US weekly that dieting was “a job” but enjoys “people looking at me now and not recognizing me.” Watch the stores for his upcoming slim down video and book he plans on developing…

Rachel Ray is front page news on the National Enquirer (admittedly not the most reputable source of breaking news) for reportedly gaining 23 lbs. For anyone who has seen her show on the Food Network, this should come as no surprise. Those fat and carb-laden comfort foods were bound to catch up with her.

According to her “pal,” “Rachael’s probably pigging out on her favorites – macroni and cheese heaped with Italian sausage, creamy butter-rich sauces and gourmet with sugary toppings. She’s eating gooey cheese snacks, pasta and bagels at all hours. She says her favorite midnight snack is egg-and-bacon-laden spaghetti carbonara.”

Add to this her views on diet and exercise:

“Rachael’s weight gain is compounded by her lack of interest in watching what she eats and staying active, says the insider. She’s repeatedly denounced dieting and exercising in interviews, saying: “I eat pasta and bread and do all the things you’re not supposed to… I never make it to the gym.”

The photos look a little on the “photo shopped” side to me.  In any event, this could be an “Oprah moment,” where we see her develop some healthy eating and lifestyle habits.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see her enlist the services of Oprah’s trainer Bob Greene, for a weight-loss “house call.”