Charlize Theron rocks the red carpet. She's kind of my style idol. Credit: HFPA

I might be the sporty tomboy type a good bit of the time, but good grief, do I love watching red carpet arrivals at big award shows. I love picking my best and worst dressed of the evening (from the comfort of my couch, where I’m very likely wearing yoga pants and a tank top, but whatever—the TV only goes one way).

Inevitably, I start trying to determine which dresses I would want to wear. Like, at the Golden Globes, although I thought Charlize Theron looked incredible (full disclosure—she’s pretty much my favorite person to watch on the red carpet EVER), I could not pull that off. However, my other favorites, Paula Patton and Sarah Michelle Gellar? How can I get those dresses in my closet right now? Can anyone tell me? Spectacular.

But! This is a fitness site, not a forum for discussing celebrity fashion—isn’t that what Twitter is for? So what’s my point?

I’m curious whether the rest of you imagine yourselves strutting your stuff down the red carpet, and, if so, what type of dress are you wearing? What body parts are you showing off, and which are you hiding?

FITNESS magazine and Yahoo! Shine teamed up to poll readers about their body confidence and found that thighs are commonly our least favorite body part, while we tend to like showing off our cleavage and our booties. FITNESS also looked at which celebs had the most rockin’ bodies at the Golden Globes, naming Kate Beckinsale the best body, Sofia Vergara best cleavage (surprise, surprise), and Jessica Alba was the best body after baby, among other super-hot stars.

(For the record, the best quote of the night came from Vergara, who answered a question about reports that she’d been doing two-a-days at the gym to get ready for awards season. She credited her sleek and strong arms to Gunnar Peterson, but her boobs to cake. I can get behind that workout program.)

Apparently I’m like most other women—I’m not shy about showing a little cleavage when it’s appropriate, but I also don’t mind showing a little leg. Now it’s your turn to chime in. What body parts would you like to flaunt on the red carpet? What kind of dress would you like to wear? —Kristen

Paula Deen has long been a fan of the butter. Credit: Robert S. Donovan

It’s official. Paula Deen has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

It comes as no surprise, really. A woman who has built a career on basically reveling in the fact that she uses a lot of butter, fat, sugar and other unhealthy ingredients in her recipes can only do that—and eat like that—for so long before having her body be affected. (Heck, in her children’s cookbook, she includes a recipe for cheesecake for breakfast.) While it would be easy to scream “I told you so!” at the top of my lungs at her, I just feel sad for her. Type 2 diabetes is a serious issue, and one that so many in the country are facing.

What I don’t feel so sad about though, is that Deen will also be the new face of a diabetes drug. While she’s saying that she’ll lighten some of her recipes and will start moving more, it’s still a drug. And Deen has already said it won’t stop her from eating the things she wants. Add that to the fact that she’s had diabetes for three years—yet is just now coming out about it. (Waiting for the right promotional opportunity? Sniffs like it.) Well, that’s just not cool. It’s one thing to not take care of yourself, but it’s another to have a huge platform of influence and then encourage it among the masses even when you know the products you’re selling and creating are clearly causing harm.

Here’s the truth: Our choices have consequences. Yes, you can enjoy the fried chicken and the bacon and the rich cakes and all the butter in the world, but you’re going to pay for it later. All good things in moderation, people. All things.

What do you think about this? Mad? Sad? Happy? Not surprised? Not interested? Let’s hear it! —Jenn

Lacey Schwimmer from Dancing With the Stars laces up for Lady Foot Locker!

Lacey Schwimmer is kind of the queen of the dancing reality-TV world. She’s appeared on both SYTYCD and DWTS, and she can pretty much rock any style of dance you throw at her. As someone who has always relied on dancing to keep her strong and fit, she just recently partnered with Lady Foot Locker to help promote a healthy and active lifestyle for women with a series of dance-inspired workout tips online. We got to chat with Lacey about her new gig, how she stays fit and how she’s handled some not-so-nice media reports about her weight (we personally love how real she is). Read on!

Interview with Dancer Lacey Schwimmer

• FBG: Why have you decided to work with Lady Foot Locker?
• LS: Lady Foot Locker’s VIP Program embraces all women, no matter shape or size. They promote a healthy lifestyle… that’s what I’m all about! They created a VIP program for discounts and incentives for their consumers, I knew I had to be part of that! I love a discount!
• FBG: Your dance-inspired workout moves and tips for Lady Foot Locker are really fun. How did you come up with them?
• LS: I worked closely with Lady Foot Locker to come up with some simple but effective moves for every woman.
• FBG: Is dancing your only form of working out? Or do you do other exercises?
• LS: Well, I’m not the typical gym bunny. You won’t see me at the gym, but I move every day—I’m cleaning around my house, walking my dogs, laughing with my friends or dancing in the studio.
• FBG: You’ve starred on both DWTS and SYTYCD. Which one was your favorite to be on? To watch?
• LS: Well, of course, DWTS—haha! But I will always be grateful to SYTYCD and the time I was on that show. DWTS is so amazing; we are a close family.
• FBG: Is there one style of dance that is best for burning calories? What about toning?
• LS: No real style of dancing is “better” than another… just remember to move! Close your eyes and dance like there is no one in the room!
• FBG: How do you keep your workouts fresh and fun?
• LS: I’m always coming up with new moves, new routines—sometimes I think I dream dance, too.
• FBG: Your weight has been the focus of many articles and blog posts around the web. We personally think you look great and are bringing some realness to Hollywood, but how has this media attention affected you?
• LS: At first, the attention was a little overwhelming. I’m in my 20′s now—I love my body, I love my curves. Working with Lady Foot Locker’s VIP Program has enabled me to have a larger platform to help all women feel good about their bodies!
• FBG: What are your three favorite songs to work out to right now?
• LS: LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” and my song “Love Soundz.”
• FBG: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
• LS: Be myself; don’t try to be something you are not. It’s helped me stay grounded in this crazy world!
• FBG: What’s the No. 1 tip you can give our readers to be healthier, happier and more fit?
• LS: I know I say this a lot, but its so true: just keep moving! If you’re having trouble doing my videos, just walk around the block for a few days, get your stamina going and work up to my videos. Who knows? Maybe someday you will be on DWTS!
• FBG: Anything else you’d like to add or tell our FBG readers?
• LS: Always love yourself!

A big thanks to Lacey for talking to us! We love her real-girl, real-world tips! —Jenn

In our minds, Jackie Warner is right up there with Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper when it comes to getting results. So seeing that we are in the holiday season—where we all seem to be (rightly so, in my opinion) sipping egg nog, nibbling on sugar cookies and cutting our workouts a touch short to finish that holiday shopping—and coming up on the New Year (where resolutions reign supreme!), we thought we’d pick Ms. Warner’s brain for her top weight-loss tips. Read on for tips on eating healthy out, boosting your metabolism, breaking through weight-loss plateaus and how you’re really supposed to use workouts DVDs!

Jackie Warner’s Top Workout and Diet Tips

1.Try cardio acceleration. For those who are looking for a challenge in the New Year, Jackie says to try “cardio acceleration,” where you add one to two minutes of plyometric cardio moves between sets of resistance training. “You get your heart rate up tremendously in these intervals,” she says. “The best way to do this, especially with a home workout, is grabbing a jump rope and doing 100 rotations in between each move.” If jumping rope isn’t your thing, burpees, squat jumps and box jumps work well as cardio-accelerating moves, too!

Lashinda Demu is back in top running form after having twins!

Mother of twin boys, athlete and one of the best female hurdlers in American track and field, Lashinda Demus knows how to juggle being a mom and an elite athlete. She had her babies in 2007 and missed out on the 2008 Olympics, but she’s since come back strong, with the third-fastest time ever to become the 2011 World Champion Gold medalist. She’s also busy preparing for the 2012 games in London.

Fit Bottomed Mamas caught up to her (not literally, as I’m not a fast runner) to ask her some questions about how twins rocked her running world and how she jumped back onto the race track after her break. Read on for inspiration!

Interview with Lashinda Demus

• FBM: What was your reaction to finding out you were pregnant—with twins—while at the top of your career?
• LD: It definitely wasn’t planned, so I was totally shocked. That soon turned into being depressed because I didn’t think it was any way possible to get back to form. I felt as if all my dreams had been taken away from me, yet one of my dreams was coming true, so I was mad that I couldn’t have both when I wanted them instead of one dream stopping the other.

Click on over to Fit Bottomed Mamas to read about Lashinda’s inspiring return to top running form! —Erin

Bob, I can do ball slams, too!

I love me some Bob Harper. And I love me some CrossFit. (I’ve been going to a gym that does CrossFit-style workouts two to three times a week and have been loving it.) I love the challenge. The focus on building strength and muscle. And the camaraderie of the members—where you have people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities encouraging each other to be their absolute best. It’s awesome. And apparently Mr. Harper thinks so, too.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to talk to Bob on the phone (!) with a few other bloggers for some promotional work he was doing for Quaker Oats. While I only got to ask him a few questions, I did learn two important facts:

1. Bob’s first tattoo was a rose on his back, and he later had it removed and worked into another more menacing skull tattoo. (I know ya’ll were dying to know about his tatts.)

2. He works out like me!

Number two made me feel like Bob and I are workout BFFs, separated only by space and two time zones. (Of course. He’s in LA, and I’m in Kansas City.) Getting up at 4:45 a.m. for a 5:30 CrossFit class three times a week (Just. Like. Me.), Bob has fallen in love with the style of workout for its intensity, challenge and ability to get amazing results and boost his fitness level. (Again, like me.) And, although getting up at 4:45 a.m. is tough some days—he said his dog looks at him like “What the heck are you doing up, crazy?” (just like my dog!)—he loves morning workouts and starting his day off so accomplished. (Do I need to say it again? Like me!)

In fact, Bob is so smitten with this form of working out that he reunited with Jillian Michaels on “The Doctors” to give her and her co-star Dr. Travis Stork one heck of a CrossFit-style workout competition. Not only was it fun to see the former The Biggest Loser training pair together, it was awesome to see Bob lead Jillian through a series of moves I do every week at The Fit Pit! This stuff isn’t easy, man…

Can’t see the video? Click here to see Jillian Michaels try a CrossFit workout.

More proof that Bob and I are meant to be? I think so. —Jenn

Just going for a run with the one-and-only Ryan Hall!

Because there is so much fun stuff going on in New York City when it comes to fitness (and because Erin has a super-cute little one at home making traversing the Big Apple a touch more complicated), FBG has added Raquel Guss as our “New York correspondent.” Below Raquel goes On the Scene to cover a yoga class that was part of a weekend-long NYC Marathon event sponsored by Nissan Leaf. —Jenn

I laced my running shoes for a not-so-usual jaunt around Central Park.  Nope, I wasn’t prepping for the 26.2 miles race of my life (like many runners were). I was getting ready to race Ryan Hall, the fastest American runner, to the finish line of the ING New York City Marathon—well, kind of.

Ryan had just finished congratulating his wife, Sara, on her first place rank at the Dash to the Finish Line 5K when he joined me for a run in the park. Since running the Chicago marathon in early October with a time of 2:08:04 (!), he planned to sit this marathon out—and he deserved it. A native of Big Bear, Calif., Hall’s running career started as a junior in high school after the 2000 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, where he placed third. He has since broken American records many times over and still thinks there is so much more to look forward to.

But since the marathon was in the air, many avid and newbie runners (like myself) wanted to know how to create a plan of attack for one of the longest runs of their lives—so I asked him for some marathon running tips. I mean, who would know better how to run a marathon than the one and only Ryan Hall?

Ryan Hall’s Top 6 Marathon Running Tips

When not running with bloggers, Ryan Hall lives in Big Bear, Calif., with his wife Sara and his two Siberian Huskies—his other “running partners.”

1. Do not try anything new. If you know oatmeal in the morning gives you the energy to haul ass, Hall says then you better eat your oats on race day. (We like this guy.)

2. Attack one mile at a time. The key? Stay in the moment, he says.

3. Get comfortable with the course so you know what to expect. If you don’t have the opportunity to run the course, do what Ryan did for Chicago: Virtually run through the course on YouTube a thousand times over until it feels like you’ve actually run it.

4. Get most of your nutrition in the first half of the race. Yes, you’ll need the energy. When it comes to race drinks, make them diluted in the beginning because you still have energy from your pre-run meal, strong in the middle because you’ll need a pick-me-up, and diluted at the end. Hall promises you’ll still make it to the end.

5. Avoid fibrous foods—or anything that will cause your stomach to go “ugh.” Not only will it ruin your run, but the guy or gal behind you may pass out…and it won’t be from exhaustion.

6. Rest! Hall always takes one day off a week and two weeks off after a marathon. This means it’s okay to sit on the couch. You’ve earned it.

And then after you run your first race, you can get ready for the next one! Ryan runs two marathons (max) per year, and he has three favorites. Boston is the most historic with tons of energy, New York City has the best start and is most scenic (you run through all of New York City’s five boroughs), and Chicago is the quickest.

The finish of our jog ended at breakfast, and his last word of advice: “Go out hard—it’s easier to slow down than speed up!” Which I took as, “Give it all you got.”

Isn’t he the best? Do you have a favorite marathon? Which is it? —Raquel

Back in the day, Tae Bo was one of the first workout DVDs I ever did that I really, really got into. For me (at the time), it was trendy, fun and powerful. In high school, I’d never really kicked or punched, so doing so felt like girl power squared. And I liked it so much that I went on to teach the format in college. Nowadays kickboxing workouts are just a normal workout, but I’ll always have a special bond with Billy for being my first kickboxing instructor. So when we had the opportunity to talk to him about his new workout Billy Blank’s PT 24/7 (which we’ll be reviewing tomorrow, of course!)—and super-important things like Paula Abdul—I double-time high-kicked with excitement.

Interview with Billy Blanks, Famed Tae Bo Creator

• FBG: You have been a fitness icon for years. How do you keep your own workouts fresh and fun?
• BB: By being creative and meeting the needs of the people I meet around the world—while understanding that you and I are alike in that we desire to be the best that we can be.
• FBG: What’s your own fitness and workout routine like?
• BB: My routine is comprised of a Tae Bo-combined workout including boxing, karate, running, resistance training and mental focus for an hour and a half. I make sure that while I am doing my physical routine, I am constantly reaffirming a strong mental workout by speaking success out loud to myself.
• FBG: You have a new workout system on the market—PT 24/7. Why did you develop this, and how is it different than your other DVDs?
• BB: I developed PT 24/7 as the ultimate all-around system. It combines Tae Bo with resistance training to improve speed, power, endurance and flexibility with just 30-minute workouts.
• FBG: What was the process like for developing the new system?
• BB: Over the years, my martial arts training motivated me to develop a faster way to improve and increase my speed, power, endurance and flexibility in a shorter amount of time. This way I can recover faster so I’m able to continuously train without burning out.
• FBG: We’re big fans of Paula Abdul and have heard that she was one of your first celebrity clients. Is this true, and what was it like training her?
• BB: Paula Abdul is a nice person, and she was a hard worker. She was focused and goal oriented while being down to earth. She treated me like a part of her family.
• FBG: What’s the best piece of advice you can give those looking to lose weight and get in shape?
• BB: Get into a workout program and learn how to communicate with your body and mind. Teach yourself that weight-loss is a by-product of how you think and feel about what drives you to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
• FBG: What’s next for you?
• BB: To keep learning what makes people tick. What makes people give up or succeed in a world with needs that are always changing?
• FBG: Anything else you’d like to add or tell our Fit Bottomed Girls’ readers?
• BB: In preparing for a fitness program, exercise a realistic and positive thought process before going after the physical body change. Every “body” is created differently, and although you may see a body type that you desire to have, you should use it only as an incentive to achieve your best in your fitness life.

We get the feeling Billy is more of a man of action than words. But we dig how he puts the emphasis on believing in yourself first and foremost! Now, tell us about your first Tae Bo experience…Billy is a legend, after all! —Jenn

Kelly Oliver has gotten faster after going gluten-free!

Yeah, so gluten is pretty much in everything. And it’s especially in carbs, which makes training for endurance events—like the, ahem, IRONMAN—kind of tricky. We recently caught up with LUNA Chix Pro Team member and professional triathlete Tyler Stewart, as well as her friend and Team LUNA Chix San Francisco Bay area member, Kelly Oliver, about their transition to gluten-free eating. Read on for how they fuel their bodies, minus the gluten!

Top 5 Tips for Training Gluten-Free

1. Get creative with your carbs. Carbs don’t have to be just come from wheat. Here’s Tyler’s usual breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner of champions:

· Breakfast: A gluten-free English muffin with almond butter 
· Mid-morning snack: Fruit and/or a gluten-free LUNA Protein bar (her favorite flavor is Cookie Dough)
· Lunch: A big energizing salad with chicken for protein and roasted potatoes for carbohydrates
· Dinner: Chicken, a baked potato and brown rice
· Her favorite indulgence: Ice cream and gluten-free cookies

2. Be prepared. With a busy corporate schedule as Microsoft’s West Coast chief of staff, Kelly far too often finds herself relying on catered lunches that are far too often not gluten free. So to make sure she always has a gluten-free meal on hand, Kelly makes a big batch of her signature “Hobo Stew” at the beginning of the week and brings it for lunch. To make your own hobo stew, combine cooked ground turkey, black beans, rice and tomatoes for a healthy and power-packed gluten-free meal.

Tyler Stewart is the holder of the World Record for fastest Ironman bike split (4:42.40). Whoa!

3. Find substitutions for your cravings. A self-proclaimed sushi addict, Tyler misses soy sauce but has found Tamari and a lot of ginger do the trick! Also, Kelly’s favorite Friday-night pasta dinners are now replaced with rice pastas and what she claims is a great craving killer—wine!

4. Focus on protein. Tyler knows the importance of eating a protein-filled snack or meal within half an hour after completing a workout to help repair and build up your muscles. When she knows she won’t be able to have meal right away, Tyler makes sure to stash a protein bar in her gym bag to give her the protein she needs.

5. Take care of yourself first and foremost. Tyler recognizes that training and intense workouts can put your immune system at risk for colds and illness, so she incorporates a few supplements and vitamins, both Tyler and Kelly have seen a noticeable improvement in their training, racing and overall health as they no longer have to deal with bloating, gas and puffiness. Tyler no longer has to worry about her irritable and unpredictable stomach when going on long runs, bike rides or during races, so she can keep her eye and mind on the prize…not the bathroom.

What are your favorite gluten-free foods? Any of you who are gluten free and into racing? Tell us about it! —Jenn

A couple of weeks ago, our pals at Fitness magazine asked if we wanted to submit a question for an interview that they were doing with Ted Allen of the Food Network show Chopped. Being fans of Ted’s dry humor and food knowledge on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (do you guys remember that show?! LOVED it.), we happily agreed to submit our best health foodie questions.

Well, Mr. Allen—who apparently doesn’t read the site and isn’t aware that fit bottoms come in ALL shapes and sizes—took quite a bit of delight in our Twitter name. We can’t blame him, really! Watch the interview below for the full interview, which features questions asked by other bloggers/Tweeters we love. Our question is about a minute and a half in, so don’t miss his reaction.

Can’t see the video? Click here to watch the interview with Ted Allen of Chopped.

Funny, right? We got a kick out of it. And, most importantly, we loved his answer that food shouldn’t be another chore on the to-do list but rather something to enjoy and get creative with! Come to think of it, that’s pretty much our same thought and mission on working out!

Do you like to cook? How often do you do it? —Jenn