Credit: Robert Quailer

Ever since Cat Cora popped up on the TV cooking scene as the first female Iron Chef (can you say bad ass?!), I’ve been wowed by her awesomeness, not once but twice watching and simultaneously repeating the Wayne-and-Garth “I’m not worthy!” gesture. See, I’ve always loved to cook, and I have mad respect for this lady.

Besides breaking chef gender boundaries, Cat has also joined First Lady Michelle Obama’s recently launched Chefs Move to Schools program, which pairs chefs with interested schools in their communities to create healthy meals that meet schools’ dietary guidelines and stay within budget, while also teaching youngsters about nutrition and making healthy choices. More than 31 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million participate in the National School Breakfast Program, so it’s a pretty darn big thing. Oh, and Cat has her own charity, Chefs for Humanity. Again, “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!”

As if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Cat has a new book out now: Cat Cora’s Classics with a Twist: Fresh Takes on Favorite Dishes. We’ll be reviewing the book and sharing a recipe with ya’ll tomorrow, but for now, pull up a chair and read our Q&A with the one-and-only Cat Cora!

• FBG: Why did you join the Chefs Move to Schools program with the First Lady?
• CC: I was honored to be invited by the First Lady to participate in the Chefs Move to Schools program. Nutrition education for children has always been something very important to me and that I strongly believe in, so it is the perfect fit.
• FBG: How involved are you with the program? Are you working with any schools?
• CC: I am currently working on adopting a local elementary school here in Santa Barbara, Calif.
• FBG: How do you cook healthy for your own family of four young boys?
• CC: We make a point of using local/seasonal fresh ingredients in our nightly family dinner together. We use the outdoor grill as often as we can for lean proteins, veggies and even fresh fruit for desserts.
• FBG: What are your tricks for creating healthful savory foods? How about for picky eaters and kids?
• CC: We always prepare balanced meals with fresh great vegetables, high-fiber complex carbs, and lean proteins, and introduced our boys to various flavors and foods at an early age to open up the palates. We try to be inventive and keep it fun/flavorful and exciting.
• FBG: What’s your favorite healthy dinner when you don’t feel like cooking?
• CC: At least once or twice a week, we have fresh grilled fish or chicken lettuce “gyros” with a great Greek yogurt tzatziki and a do-it-yourself condiment bar with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and olives. We grill quickly outside, enjoy dinner together in the backyard, and don’t have a hot/messy kitchen to clean up afterward.
• FBG: You’re a busy woman—how do you find the time to work, work out, cook healthy and be a mom?
• CC: I have a great support team around me and make time for myself EVERY day to keep it all and myself in balance.
• FBG: Do you get nervous before cooking competitions?
• CC: I don’t get nervous, so much, but I am competitive by nature, so the gloves are definitely off when I am competing on Iron Chef America.
• FBG: The culinary professions appear to be dominated by men, but is that changing? Do you feel pressure to excel because you’re the only female Iron Chef?
• CC: I definitely think the scene is changing as more and more female chefs are rising to the top and gaining success, but it’s taken a few trailblazers to get us to where we are now. I challenge myself to excel in whatever I do, but definitely want to continue to set a good example for young chefs out there, female as well as male.
• FBG: In addition to serious cooking skills, you have a degree in exercise physiology. How did you plan to use it at the time, and do you use it at all now?
• CC: I have always been interested in how the body works and how we can keep ourselves healthy, so my education definitely plays a part in my cooking and promoting a healthy lifestyle platform today.
• FBG: What is your workout plan like? What’s your favorite exercise?
• CC: I love to keep active and make time to work out every day, even if that means setting the alarm for 5 a.m.! I love to jog along the beach, practice yoga, spend time on the elliptical machine and do free weights several times a week.
• FBG: What’s next for you and your career?
• CC: We’re getting ready to film our ninth season of Iron Chef America, I have my third published cookbook out now, Cat Cora’s Classics with a Twist, we’re shooting a new show for Oprah’s new OWN Network, we’re opening a handful of new restaurants around the country, and I’m launching a product and merchandise line that will be out this fall. So stay tuned—LOTS to come!
• FBG: Other cooking or fitness advice for the FBG readers?
• CC: Make being an active, healthy person a part of who you are. Don’t look at it as a task or something that has to get checked off everyday. Once it’s ingrained in your daily lifestyle, it’s something you look forward to and you never dread having to get your workout in.

See? Bad ass. Check in tomorrow for review of her new healthy cookbook and a recipe from it, too! —Jenn

The band: Atom Willard, David Kennedy, Tom Delonge and Matt Wachter (left to right).

I remember when my now-hubby, then-boyfriend proposed. It was exciting and thrilling (still is, looking back on it) and, in true FBG-Jenn-music-loving nature, I gravitated towards a song to represent that time in my life. What was that song? “The Adventure,” by the band Angels & Airwaves. The line: “life’s waiting to begin tonight” just really struck a romantic chord with me. Even when I hear the song now, almost four years later, I get butterflies.

So when we got the chance to interview Angels & Airwaves, you can probably imagine me freaking out. The whole band is way talented—lead singer Tom DeLonge is from Blink 182 and the drummer Atom Willard is from The Offspring—and it turns out the band knows a thing or two about fitness. The band finished its third studio album and is now touring.

Guitarist David Kennedy and drummer Atom Willard follow a well rounded and fun workout regimen that includes running, surfing and interval training with disciplined nutrition to maintain fitness while on the road. Atom (man after my heart) has a detailed running regimen plotted out during the tour that will prep him for his summer entry into the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, and Kennedy, the surfer of the group, does weekly sessions of interval training, plyometrics and core strengthening. Kennedy is also big into motorcycles and even races them.

Read on for Atom’s and David’s tips to staying fit while on the road!

• FBG: Staying fit and a stereotypical band on-the-road lifestyle don’t seem to go together. How do you make it work?
• AW: It’s really all about time management. On the days off, of course there is more opportunity to get the longer runs done, and you don’t have to play a show that night so there isn’t the fear of being out of gas later. On show days, we usually wake up on the bus at the venue, and I’ll do breakfast and then it depends on the weather. If it’s nice, I can get out. If it’s not, you have to get creative, running the stairs or just doing core-strength stuff.



• DK: I make it work by being motivated to be strong and healthy for the shows. There can be a lot of distractions and every day you’re in a different environment, so it’s really easy to just blow it off.
• FBG: Why is staying fit and in shape important to you?
• AW: It started from wanting to be stronger for shows, to be at my best for the full 90 minutes. It’s just snowballed from there.
• DK: By staying fit you feel ready to get out in front of people. We put a lot of energy into our shows. If you just sit around all day you could be at risk for pulling some serious rock muscles!
• FBG: How does your fitness routine on the road differ from what you do when you’re at home?
• AW: At home in Southern California, the only thing determining my workout is me. Should I go cycling today? Running? Sprints? Spinning? The weather has so little to do with it. On the road, there are a hundred different things delegating how long or what workout I get to do.
• DK: Working out on tour for me is a reduced version of what I would put in at home, to complement the show that night as a warm-up and for general maintenance. I’ve done it before where you’ve burned yourself out in a workout then later that night you feel defeated on stage from the first song. The goal is to feel energized and ready to go.
• FBG: Some people find working out and staying healthy while on the road to be challenging. What tips can you give to make it work?
• AW: For me, it’s all about self discipline. If I put it off for even an hour I find that I won’t do as much as I could have, or I won’t do it at all. So the tip would have to be: keep your focus, try and set a time when you NEED to be in the hotel gym—like an appointment—that way you start to see it like, “Shit, I’m late!”
• DK: The best tip I can say to someone that travels in abundance is don’t over-think it—just get started. If you’re concerned about having an hour and a half or the right facility while you’re traveling, you will never get out and do anything because you are programmed to expect too much from yourself. The bare minimum is all you need; the use of your body weight or maybe a pair of running shoes and 20 minutes. You can get a great workout with a few ingredients.
• FBG: What are the physical demands of touring? Any specific exercises that get you ready?
• AW: Nothing too different. The main thing is stretching. Long drives and a different bed every night requires more time keeping everything loose.
• DK: I don’t have specific exercises to get ready for the shows, just workouts that focus more on metabolic conditioning. One day it could be run a 5k for time or 100 push-ups, 200 sit-ups or 300 body-weight squats for time. Get your heart rate up and keep it up. My goals are to end the show with the same energy that I started with.



• FBG: How does staying fit help you keep up with the demands of touring?
• AW: You are just in a better starting place to be in shape. It’s all weird schedules and different food; restrictions on stuff you take for granted.
• DK: The biggest strain of touring is fatigue. You travel every single day, you stay up extremely late, and there are potential distractions around every corner. Training daily keeps your head on straight, strong and focused on the show.
• FBG: Marathon training and motorcycle racing are intense and time consuming. How you fit it in?
• AW: I’m not doing the typical mileage build-up training method [for the marathon], so I’m just doing all I can to keep my pace up over the longer runs and building stamina.
• DK: Staying fit is a big factor in racing motorcycles. It gives you the confidence, the energy and the ability to keep your heart rate down so you know you’ve done the work to maintain the focus it takes to get around at top speeds of 180 mph.
• FBG: Do you listen to music when you work out? Do you listen to your music? What’s on your iPod?
• AW: Always listen to music! I have a wide variety on the “run” lists. From The Bronx to Genesis to the Foo Fighters to Rage Against the Machine to Death Cab….and some AC/DC!
• DK: Music always surrounds me. I really do need it. I definitely listen to our record to motivate myself. Angels and Airwaves is truly designed to push an individual above and beyond what they thought they could achieve.
• FBG: What does a typical day of eating look like? How do you keep your food healthy when on tour?
• AW: Breakfast is muesli, yogurt and a banana. Lunch is usually some lunch meats and a little bread. Dinner is tough since I usually eat after the show, so it’s like midnight…
• DK: Eating can be difficult. Just eat natural, and no matter what stay away from fast food! We hit grocery stores and make sure the bus is stocked with good food so, if nothing else, we can prepare meals on the bus.
• FBG: What’s new for the band? Any good tracks we should add to our workout playlist?
• AW: The new album Love has a few “burners” to get you moving. “Young London” and “Epic Holiday” should push you through the wall.
• DK: New with the band…We have a new record out called Love. It’s free, just download and listen at www.angelsandairwaves.com. We’re currently on our North American headliner tour. We’re also finishing up a feature movie with the same name that we’ll hopefully be able to have out by the end of the year. You can see the trailer at trailers.apple.com.
• FBG: Any other advice for our girl and guy readers?
• AW: New SHOES! I don’t think people change their running shoes often enough.
• DK: I would say, “Living for life today is more important than living life for tomorrow.”

Who would have thought that rock stars could teach us a thing or two about fitness?! I love it when stereotypes are broken (for the healthier!).

Be sure to check out the band’s third studio album, Love, which was released on Valentine’s Day. Sounds like something the romantic in me will definitely need to check out! —Jenn

Can you believe she's 50?!

You guys ever heard of the Eat Clean lifestyle? To eat mostly minimally processed, natural food and as a result feel better and drop unwanted pounds, without starving? Yep, it’s how we eat and basically what we preach here on FBG. The closer your food is to its natural state—being the Earth, not the Twinkie plant—the better in our minds! (Although indulgences in moderation keep us sane.) That’s why we’re happy to feature a FitStars interview with the one and only Tosca Reno.

Tosca is the creator of the Eat Clean Diet series and an overall bad ass. Just look at her. She’s 51, people. One heck of a rockin’ 51. And for those who don’t know Tosca’s back story, let me fill you in. She didn’t look like this (see left photo again) until she was in her 40s, unhappy, out of shape and unfulfilled. It was through exercise and eating clean that she became, well, what you see at left.

Inspired? Keep reading for our Q-and-A session with the one and only Tosca!

• FBG: It’s well known that you found your inner Fit Bottomed Girl after age 40. What prompted you to change and was it hard?
• TR: I looked at a photograph of myself and didn’t recognize who I had become. I was a blob, living a dead life. I was inspired to change because I was afraid that if I kept up the way I was going, I would not be around to see my three daughters grow up to be young women. I guess you could say I was hungry for change. Once I made the decision to be different it was all or nothing. I just plugged my nose and jumped off the cliff into the unknown. That was better than the life I was living at the time.
• FBG: You’ve written a lot of books and articles over the years. What’s your favorite book or article that you’ve written and why?
• TR: Tough question! My books and articles are like my children. I put so much of my love and time into them. Just as you couldn’t choose a favorite child, I could never choose a favorite book. Each of these books has taught me something about myself. I will say that sometimes the biggest lessons come from the toughest audience members. I have a smart reading audience. They like me raw and real. That is why I make myself so transparent to them in my words. This journey is just beginning.
• FBG: How is Eat Clean Diet Recharged different from the first edition?
• TR: Recharged was written in response to what I had learned from my readers. They are a smart bunch. They wanted more and had new questions that had to be addressed. This book puts it all in one place.
• FBG: Have you ever struggled with emotional eating? If so, how did you overcome it?
• TR: I am sure the reason I became heavy had everything to do with emotional eating. I would open a carton of ice cream and dig in, not knowing how to or wanting to stop. I didn’t care about myself much, and I loved the companionship food gave me. I just didn’t like the after effects.
• FBG: What are your feelings on cheat meals or days where you eat whatever you wish?
• TR: I never take days like this. I enjoy a cheat meal, but I prefer to call it a treat. For example, my birthday is coming up, and I know I would like to have a glass of wine, and I will also enjoy some birthday cake. It’s funny now that I have figured out how to “eat clean,” I love the feeling of being healthy and slim so much I don’t find myself longing for the old trigger foods anymore. I feel a tremendous sense of liberation from food.
• FBG: What’s your favorite summer lunch or meal? And what’s your favorite summer workout?
• TR: My favorite thing to do in the summer is to go to my vegetable garden and see what’s up—literally. I will gather up salad greens, onions, ripe tomatoes, herbs and other salad veggies, and create a brilliant salad loaded with texture and crunch. I dress it with pumpkin seed oil and lemon juice. The salad gets topped with grilled salmon, and I am a happy girl. I also love quinoa salads. This food is highly nutritious and super-easy to cook. I cook up the quinoa and then create endless varieties of summer salads, which keep well and taste fantastic. At the moment, my favorite summer workout is training my glutes outside. Glute-training is my secret weapon for keeping my body in shape. If the glutes are tight then the rest of me is tight, too. So I take my weights out to the driveway and do walking lunges uphill and back down again. I also do hip raises and dead lifts for toning these massive muscles. This really challenges my glutes. I also do wind sprints up the hill. Then I hit the pool and do laps for conditioning and cardio.
• FBG: What is the best snack you can have that’s less than 150 calories?
• TR: The best thing about Eating Clean is that I don’t advocate counting calories. But if I was going to have a low-cal snack, I would eat an apple with 1 tablespoon natural almond butter on it.
• FBG: What do you go for when you have a craving for something sweet?
• TR: When I want to have something sweet I usually reach for Greek yogurt topped with chopped fresh fruit. That is sweet enough for me. However a decadent snack that isn’t sweet is dark chocolate. Anything 75 percent or darker is ideal and totally delicious.
• FBG: Some believe that eating clean is expensive. How can you do it on a budget and what are your tips for eating clean on the cheap?
• TR: Most people think Eating Clean is costly, but I disagree. In my experience, the nutritionally dense foods eaten in this plan provide so much nutrition that you require less of them to feel satisfied. Have you ever noticed that when you eat junk food it is easy to eat an entire bag of chips and still want more? That is because the body has not been fed properly. Yes, you have eaten, but you have not nourished yourself, and the body will continue to “ask” for more until you have finally eaten clean foods. Also, if you eat foods grown in season when they are at their nutritional peak, these foods are normally so abundant they are quite inexpensive. Eating in season is always the way to go if you want to save money. Also, you do not have to eat animal protein all the time. You can eat less expensive protein sources including legumes, beans, nuts, dairy and quinoa. Also, if you buy in bulk your price comes down. Eating at a restaurant requires you to drive to that location, have someone else make your food and then you pay for it. But you as the consumer have to pay for all of the costs associated with this, and your carbon footprint is enormous. If you do the math, eating at home is always cheaper. By far the biggest cost in our society today are the costs associated with disease related to being overweight and obesity. These costs far outweigh the cost of illness associated with smoking so much so that we will inevitably bankrupt the health-care system if we don’t change our ways.
• FBG: Do you count carbs or calories at all? What’s your take on low-carb diets?
• TR: Counting calories is an exercise in frustration for most people. You cannot relate the 89 calories in an apple to the 289 calories in a donut. While the calories in an apple build you up and nourish the body, the calories in a donut tear you down, weakening your body. It’s far too frustrating an exercise. I rely on portion control, using my hands as a guide. An open palm is the correct measure of protein, a fist is the correct measure of complex carbs from whole grains or fruit, and two open hands is the right measure for leafy greens.The carbohydrate is much misunderstood. I think low-carb diets were made for people addicted to sugar. Few of us can survive on low levels of carbohydrates, but they have to be the right kind. The body needs complex carbs from fruits, vegetables and whole grains to function properly. Simple carbs from refined sugar and cereals are not desirable. This is where the carbohydrate confusion begins. The good and the bad are lumped together under one name. Eating Clean works because you eat lean protein paired with complex carbs from fruit, vegetables and whole grains. The result is good health and a lean physique.
• FBG: Do you have any advice for women wanting to lose weight?
• TR: If you wish to lose weight and do nothing but AVOID SUGAR AT ALL COSTS you will begin to experience success in losing weight and you will improve your health. I also urge you not to skip meals. You want to fire up the body’s own natural fat-burning system, which is the metabolism. The best way to do this is to eat regularly, especially breakfast.
• FBG: How do you stay so motivated?
• TR: I love the changes that have taken place in my body and want others to realize how Eating Clean can work for them too. I also feel that as a positive role model, I might be able to change how people eat for the better and that includes my children. I do this for them.
• FBG: What’s next for you? Another book? A workout DVD perhaps? (That’s our vote!)
• TR: I am currently working on three more book projects and a few TV ideas. I would love to do a workout DVD. Let’s get started!
• FBG: Any final thoughts or advice for our Fit Bottomed Girls readers?
• TR: Because your readers are Fit Bottomed Girls, I want to push the good habit of training glutes at least twice a week. I train mine three times per week and love the results. If your buns are tight, the rest of you will be, too!

I really wish I’d read her glute tips before this! Stay tuned to FBG tomorrow for a review of her latest cookbook and a recipe from it, too! In the meantime, tell us, do you eat clean? —Jenn

We’ve been known to enjoy a Pussycat Dolls’ song now and again, so when we heard that PCD creator Robin Antin was creating a dance workout DVD, we were psyched. If you’ve never heard of Robin Antin or have never experienced the joy of watching an entire day of “The Search for the Next Doll,” I’m sorry.

Let me fill you in on some PCD history. Robin started the group in 1995 as a burlesque troupe based in Los Angeles. After attracting serious attention (and the likes of Christina Applegate and Gwen Stefani who actually performed on stage with the Dolls back in the day), Antin got with Interscope Records in 2004, and the troupe was transformed into a music group that has since sold more than seven million records and charted several hit songs.

Robin is almost 50 and is in rockin’ good shape, as you can see. She credits dance for her body and energy and wanted to share it with the world, hence the workout DVD. And this FitStars. We totally were game to learn more about the DVD and her secrets for being—and as you’ll learn—feeling sexy. Girlfriend has it going on! Come on…”don’t cha” want to learn more?

• FBG: Why did you decide to do a workout DVD? What inspired you?
• RA: After dancing my whole life, I wanted to inspire people to learn how to dance in a fun and simple way, and get the body of a dancer.
• FBG: Because of the Pussycat Dolls reality show, you’re used to being on TV. How is being on camera for TV different than filming a workout DVD? Is it harder to instruct regular people to dance at home than it is to choreograph stars?
• RA: The challenge was breaking it down enough so anyone can learn the moves. But I took my time for those who don’t have any dance experience and enjoyed the process. My message is the same….inside every woman is a Pussycat Doll.
• FBG: How do you go about finding that inner Pussycat Doll?
• RA: Start with confidence. To own the body that you’ve been born with. I always say, “love your love handles,” but just tone them up. Dancing is a great form of self-expression. I wake up every morning with the attitude that I want to feel my best, look my best and be my best.
• FBG: You’ve worked with some big names, like Christina Applegate, Paris Hilton, No Doubt and Pink. Who has been the most fun to work with? Who surprised you the most?
• RA: All of these woman are amazing and inspiring. I have to say, Gwen Stefani surprised me…with no dance experience, she learned the moves and found her “inner doll” right there before my very eyes. Love her!
• FBG: There have been rumors that the Pussycat Dolls eat pretty few calories. How much truth is there to it and how do the pressures of Hollywood affect you and your dancers?
• RA: We all work out so much that we need to eat more to keep up our energy. So there you have it, the rumors are untrue.
• FBG: What are some of your personal challenges with being a choreographer? What are some of your road blocks?
• RA: Always staying ahead of the game and staying true to the style that I love so much as a dancer and choreographer. Not following trends but being a trendsetter.
• FBG: You have a lot on your plate, girl! With choreographing, shows and a huge business, how do you limit your stress? What’s your best stress-reducing workout?
• RA: Dance class is my stress reliever. I take a really fun dance class at Equinox with a guy name Allan, where you can also find my Pussycat Dolls workout dance class…soon to come!
• FBG: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been giving about living your best, most healthy life?
• RA: Stress can age you and inhibit weight loss. I try to live my life stress-free. Relax, take deep breaths and get lots of massages!
• FBG: Any parting words or advice for our Fit Bottomed Girls’ readers?
• RA: I hope you work out to my DVD, so we can all have fit bottoms together!

Dance and get regular massages? I think I can do that. Thanks for the great interview, Robin. And, dear readers, check back tomorrow for an official review of Robin’s PCD workout DVD and my earnest—yet entertaining—attempts at locating my inner Doll! —Jenn

None other than the inspiring, motivational, hilarious and down-to-earth girl, Ruby Gettinger!

A little over a year ago, we had the chance to interview Ruby and were so impressed with her outlook and honesty that we could think of no better person to name as this year’s Fit Bottomed Girl of the Year. Ruby has been on a public journey to lose hundreds of pounds and find the lost memories of her childhood. Her reality TV series on The Style Network is in its second season, and she was recently on Oprah, talking about her struggle with food addiction (both admitting at first that she had it and then working through her emotional eating issues). Ruby’s love of life and her dedication to learning more about herself and committing to a healthy lifestyle is an attitude that we commend.

Ruby encompasses everything that FBG is about—that being a Fit Bottomed Girl is more about attitude and choices than a pant size and that eating right and being active can actually help you do new things and reach goals that you never thought you would, or could. Thankfully, when we asked Ruby if she would accept this second-annual award (see who won last year!), she said yes, rather hilariously. See below for our full interview with her, including her candid reaction to the nomination!

• FBG: What has changed since we last talked to you last August? Where are you in reaching your weight-loss goals?
• RG: I am closing in on the 300-pound mark. I have lost more than 400 pounds since my heaviest weight, and I am losing weight from the inside out! What I mean by that is I am searching inwardly, trying to get to the root of the problem and working to get sober when it comes to food! Whatever your addiction— food, alcohol or drugs—most of the battle is in your brain. I am tackling the root causes of my problem head-on, literally.
• FBG: Do strangers treat you differently now that you have lost weight?
• RG: I believe some people have more respect for me, not only because I am losing weight, but also because I am shedding light on the true obesity battle! Many people view someone who is overweight as lazy or as a glutton. I hope that my story helps show how their perceptions are just not true. I have had many people write to me to tell me that they hated or blamed a family member or friend for their obesity, but now realize that this is a true addiction and that the very people they are blaming are fighting something terrible that controls them. They need love and help—not ridicule—to find a way out.
• FBG: During the second season on your show and on Oprah, you admitted that you are addicted to food. How did admitting that help you? Was it hard to say and believe?
• RG: Admitting to myself and others that I was a food addict was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It took everything in me to say that because I had told myself for years that I was fine. In the first step (of the 12-step program), it says, “You’re powerless over ______” and I just couldn’t get myself to say “food.” Before I was able to admit out loud, openly, “I have a food addiction,” I had to dig really deep inside. It was almost like a shocker. It may not be a shocker to everybody else because they’re looking at me going, “How could you not be addicted to food?” Accepting the reality of my food addiction allowed me to better understand my “beast” and to take the next step to defeating it.
• FBG: What would you tell others who suffer from food addiction or are troubled by emotional eating?
• RG: First of all, I would tell everyone, you are not alone. The biggest thing I’ve found out through this whole journey is that there are thousands of people facing my same struggle with food addiction and obesity. It is important to assemble a support system that can help you on your journey. Friends or an online social network with people facing similar challenges can make all the difference. Groups like Overeaters Anonymous are there to help. If you don’t want to go to the meetings in person, you can attend a meeting online. Meeting other overeaters can be an enormous source of strength and hope. And one last thing, visit your doctor. If I hadn’t been pushed by my mother to get checked, I would not be here today. I would be dead, because I had no idea that I had diabetes, and that alone would have killed me.
• FBG: How much do you work out now and what activities do you do? Would you say that you like exercise now?
• RG: I love my trainers Drew and Shazi! They do everything to make my workout fun! Shazi and I dance for 45 minutes straight. I use a NuStep bike because it is for people up to 700 pounds, and it is made not to hurt your knees. So, I set that bike to burn 400 calories, and I do not get off until it does! I also love boxing! I am walking outside or on the treadmill an hour, and I do several miles! I love working out and realize I must do this for the rest of my life for my health, joints, etc. Let’s face it, most of us don’t love the gym. But there are tons of physical activities that can be really fun.
• FBG: What does the future hold for Ruby?
• RG: I know the next major step in my journey is to finally find the lost memories of my childhood. I think they are the key to unlocking the mystery as to why my weight first spiraled out of control when I was in my early teens. I have about 60 more pounds to lose. At that point, I am planning to have surgery to cut away the excess skin left behind from my weight loss. I want to visit every state and meet and hug the people on my journey who are supporting me! I want to start an anti-child abuse campaign and bring to the forefront how things like physical abuse, verbal abuse, abandonment and bullying affect our children well into adulthood. This is where many of the addictions start!
• FBG: Would you accept our Fit Bottomed Girl of the Year award? Through your honesty and solid efforts in getting healthy, we think that you embody exactly what FBG is all about—living life to its fullest and being your best self through healthy eating and regularly activity that you love.
• RG: YES! Oh my gosh! I can’t believe “Bertha” is getting an award! LOL! Thank you so much! It means a lot to me to get this award! I accept it for everyone that is on this journey with me. For those struggling to get fit and healthy and, most importantly, searching for their truth! They are with me losing weight from the inside out! By searching deep inside ourselves, we can beat any addiction. And, once we beat it, we will all be fit mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually! Thank you Fit Bottomed Girls!!! You’ve made me hacky wacky!
• FBG: Any other thoughts or advice for our readers?
• RG: Do NOT wait until tomorrow because tomorrow will NEVER come. It may come 10 years later or come too late. Whether you are trying to lose weight or get in better shape or trying to break an addiction, start this very second; start YOUR dream right now! If you mess up, start over right then! Do not face your battle alone. Reach out for help. Share your struggle with friends, send an e-mail, chat online, call an 800 number, attend a support group. And if you know someone is suffering, reach out to help them. The hardest part of this journey for me was reaching out and doing this, but, because I am, it is saving me! YAY!

A big thank you and congrats to Ruby! As she said it best, we’re “hacky wacky” about it, too! For more tips and Ruby-isms, check this out!—Jenn

When I got to chat with exercise icon Denise Austin last year, it was a bit of a thrill. Okay, a lot of a thrill. She was just as friendly, energetic and bubbly as you’d expect. I felt like we were old pals because I’d grown up aerobicizing to Denise, doing videos and exercising to her shows on ESPN. Unfortunately, this time around we couldn’t get schedules and technology lined up, so we had to get her responses via email. But don’t worry: Her personality and enthusiasm still shine through! Read on to get the scoop on Denise’s latest projects and passions, and her advice to women like me on how to stay in shape during pregnancy.

• FBG: How did you get your start, and what motivates you to keep going?
• DA: I was a gymnast since I was a little girl, and I received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Arizona. After getting my degree from college, I was the co-host of the popular Jack LaLanne fitness TV show in the early 1980s. I am still in touch with Jack and his wife, Elaine, today. I have always been involved in sports. My sisters and I have always been active. We’ve all always done outdoor and indoor sports. My husband, Jeff, comes from an athletic background, too, so it’s been a way of life for us and one that was easy for us to pass along to our daughters. We’ve always stressed the importance of movement and activity with our two girls. We all play tennis, walk, run, dance, play team sports and just move all the time, as a family. The main thing that keeps me motivated to exercise is that when I exercise, I feel good and I feel energized, and I love how that feels. That energized feeling keeps my mind and body healthy and strong. I also want to look good in my clothes. I constantly change up my exercise routines, which helps keep me motivated because the workouts stay fun, fresh and exciting.
• FBG: How have you modified your exercise habits as you’ve gotten older? What should women over 40 know about fitness?
• DA: I do a lot more yoga and toning now. Everyday, I try to do some form of yoga and boot c amp; yoga to keep me flexible and boot camp to burn fat. Over 40, I find that target-toning specific muscles works best, using light weights to tone the muscles. Moving the body for at least 30 minutes a day is a must. Adding yoga to my workout routines is easy on the joints and makes me feel good. A good daily exercise routine should include: toning, so nothing will droop or sag; cardio to burn fat all over the entire body; and stretching to stay flexible. My 3-Week Boot Camp workout is m go-to workout. I use it to lose weight, tone up and burn fat. The DVD incorporates a kettlebell inspired portion where I use dumbbells if kettlebells aren’t available. I just use the same motion, but I hold them differently. If I have time, I do the entire boot camp workout. If not, I can do 15 or 30 minutes.
• FBG: If you only had 15 minutes a day to exercise, what would you do to get the most benefit?
• DA: My Body Makeover Mix DVD is divided into 15-minute segments. Each segment works the upper, middle and lower parts of the body. The workout is a fusion of ballet-inspired moves, Pilates and the best of the best, fresh new moves to shape legs, lift the butt, work the core/abs, and shape and tone the arms. So, if you only have 15 minutes a day, you can work and tone a different body part.
• FBG: I keep hearing about trying to get healthier choices in schools. Are you involved in those causes?
• DA: Yes, definitely. I have always been a champion of a heart-healthy diet and an advocate of physical education and nutrition in schools. I’ve been a member of the President’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports since 2002. I’ve testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and helped launch the new food guidance system of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I’m very involved with the American Heart Association and am very concerned about childhood obesity. My message has always been to serve good, simple and nutritious meals, and to make physical movement fun, rain or shine.
• FBG: I’ve heard that working out more than an hour a day is a waste of time. Do you agree?
• DA: Exercise is never a waste of time. I am a true believer that exercise makes you stronger and healthier. Thirty to 60 minutes a day should be sufficient to maintain a healthy fitness level, but more is great.
• FBG: What projects are you currently involved in?
• DA: I am so excited to tell you that I am pleased to be a part of the first annual World Fitness Day in Atlanta on May 1, 2010. Over 3,000 people will come together in the Georgia Dome for a day of fitness education, fun and workouts. I will be joining Jane Fonda and others, leading a workout to live music from The Pointer Sisters. I am currently the spokesperson for Idaho potatoes and Skechers Shape Ups.
• FBG: What new DVDs have you got coming out?
• DA: Denise Austin: Best Bun & Leg Shapers, Denise Austin: 3 Week Boot Camp and Denise Austin: Body Makeover Mix are my newest DVDs for 2009. I do have three new DVDs coming out in the fall of 2010. I am always creating new workouts with new combinations, so the workouts stay fun and exciting.
• FBG:Any plans for a fitness show?
• DA: Yes, I am very excited about a new fitness TV show I have in the works.
• FBG: Do you have any plans for a Wii workout?
• DA: Funny you should ask. Yes, we are talking about it now.
• FBG: What is your biggest fitness challenge, and how do you overcome it?
• DA: I travel a lot on business, so my biggest challenge is working out while on the go. Traveling changes the workout schedule, so I make sure that the places I stay are fitness friendly so that I can get in a workout.
• FBG: What is the biggest exercise change you’ve seen from the 80s to today?
• DA: There are more gyms and clubs around today than in the 80s. There’s more treadmills and elliptical equipment, so there seems to be more awareness and more people with the opportunity to work out. With the wide use of the internet, I am able to interact with people more, so I can connect and with people on my website at www.deniseaustin.com. The internet allows me to advise people, comment on their needs, answer their questions and hear their successes. It’s great!
• FBG: Biggest diet change?
• DA: More people seem to realize the importance of eating healthy and reading labels, and they seem to have a greater awareness of what to put into the body, like more fish, flax seed and vitamin D.
• FBG: What’s the best excuse-busting exercise to do when you have just a few minutes here and there? Squats? Planks? Turkish get-ups?
• DA: I love to do walking lunges either indoors or out. I do squats when I’m talking on the phone, and I do tricep dips on the couch when I watch TV.
• FBG: What is the best advice you can give for staying in shape during pregnancy and getting back into shape post-pregnancy?
• DA: During pregnancy, listen to your body. Stay active daily. It is important to stay in shape during pregnancy. Even if you don’t feel like working out, do something—a light walk, anything to help the body circulation. After pregnancy, start back to a fitness routine gradually. It is important to focus on and re-train and tighten the tummy muscles.

Thanks to Denise for sharing her philosophies with us yet again! And thanks to our dear readers for submitting questions for her. Stay tuned for reviews of her latest and greatest workout DVDs and a special Denise recipe on Friday! —Erin

Ya’ll probably know Bob Greene best as Oprah’s personal trainer, but Mr. Greene is everywhere these days. He’s got books, a new workout DVD (which we’ll be reviewing tomorrow—woo hoo!), and a whole new line of popular Best Life foods. The man is busy.

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Bob about his new DVD and get the inside scoop on what Oprah is really like. Read on for his best weight-loss advice and his thoughts on Oprah’s very public weight struggle.

• FBG: Why did you decide to create the Total Body Makeover DVD?
• BG: I had always viewed TV as something that prevented us from being more active. In addition, many of the original TV/DVD workouts were not vigorous or even complete enough for my taste. So for many years, I avoided doing a workout on DVD (or VHS in the old days!). I started viewing workouts in front of the TV differently when I saw the potential of some of the interactive formats. I thought of ways to make a complete and challenging workout on DVD. Thus, the inspiration for the Total Body Makeover DVD.
• FBG: How is your DVD different than other workout DVDs on the market?
• BG: This workout is different from many of the other DVDs in that it addresses not only the exercise component but also the eating, as well as some of the emotional challenges of changing your workout and eating habits. In short, it gives you a complete lifestyle plan. In addition, I wanted to address all of the components of a well-rounded program, such as cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility and balance.
• FBG: Does the DVD work in conjunction with the Best Life diet?
• BG: Yes, the DVD works very well with the Best Life diet, and it is supported by information found on thebestlife.com.
• FBG: You’ve long been Oprah’s trainer and have helped real women make lifestyle changes. What are your thoughts on shows like The Biggest Loser and others that show dramatic weight-loss?
• BG: While apparently very popular as entertainment, reality shows that feature dramatics employ techniques that are not realistic and sometimes not sound, and they often send the wrong messages.
• FBG: Oprah has been very open about her battle with weight and emotional eating. How have you helped her to get back on track? And, in your opinion, what’s holding her back?
• BG: Oprah is on track after experiencing several health challenges. She has since been cleared to exercise and is back being active on a regular basis. Her big challenge, as she has stated in various ways, is that she uses food for everything from comforting herself to expressing happiness, sadness, disappointment and virtually all human emotions. This is in addition to not putting herself first on the “list.” Work often comes before her health and fitness, as do other people, charitable efforts, etc. I think this is improving and will continue to improve as the final year of her show is just ahead.
• FBG: If someone wants to lose weight, what’s the first step he or she should take?
• BG: The first step someone should take is to know exactly why they want to lose weight. Hopefully that is not a surface type of emotion such as, “I want to get ready for my reunion” or simply look better. The reason should be more along the lines of, “I want to lead a better, healthier life.” Next, they need an active lifestyle. The final step is to gradually improve their eating choices and reduce calorie intake gradually.
• FBG: What’s the biggest mistake you see people making when it comes to working out or eating right?
• BG: The biggest mistake people make is addressing only one or the other of the things they need to do. Namely, exercise, eating in moderation and looking at the emotional reasons they haven’t done those two things in the past.
• FBG: What is a good food plan for people with thyroid issues like Oprah?
• BG: There are many types of thyroid conditions, and it is important to know what type and the underlying cause in order to answer this question. It’s very important to consult your physician.
• FBG:What’s your typical workout schedule?
• BG: I do at least one hour of cardio every day. I usually run for the hour. Twice a week I take a 90-minute bike ride. I strength train four days a week.
• FBG: What’s your usual diet?
• BG: I follow, almost to the letter, the Best Life Diet.
• FBG: What’s Oprah really like?
• BG: The nice thing about answering this question is that she is herself on air (like no one else I know). What you see is what you get. She often disarms people with how down to earth she is.
• FBG: If you could tell all the women in the world one thing about living a healthy life, what would it be?
• BG: The best advice I can give is to know the life you want, know that you deserve it, and go after it with a passion.

Good advice. A big thanks to Bob for taking the time to talk with us! Stay tuned to tomorrow when we review his new workout DVD and give away a massive Bob Greene goodie bag! —Jenn

Today’s FitStars takes on a slightly different format. Usually, we get a one-on-one interview, whether by phone or email, to ask all of our burning questions. But Dr. Mehmet Oz—a heart surgeon, frequent medical expert on Oprah and the host of his very own The Dr. Oz Show—is apparently a busy man, so I settled for an hour-long conference call in which he answered the burning questions of myself and other journalists and bloggers. And because an hour of talking translates to pages and pages and pages of written text, I’m including the best highlights, take-home messages and snippets from the discussion.

• What is your regular routine?
• Dr. Oz: I get up about a quarter to six. I always do a morning yoga stretch that’s about seven minutes long. There’s a reason why it’s seven minutes long: because it’s hard to admit to yourself that your life is so out of control that you can’t carve out even seven minutes in the morning. And once I’m out of that seven minute stretch, I usually don’t eat breakfast until I get to work, but it’s still pretty early at that hour. I endorse people having breakfast—I don’t care if it’s the first thing you do when you get up, but it should be something you do within the first hour or so of awakening so that you stabilize the nature of your food intake throughout the rest of the morning. Especially high-fiber, high-protein foods satisfy that purpose for breakfast.
• The other thing I’m very strict about is trying to be on time. I was just in the operating room, which is why I delayed this call for about five minutes, but even that frustrates me. If you’re late then you’re out of control, and maintaining the focus of control is an important part, I think, of us leading the healthiest lives we can. I can go on and on, but it ends with my going to sleep pretty religiously around 10:30 at night so I can get about seven-and-a-half hours by 6 in the morning. That’s probably the single biggest and easily achievable goal that most Americans can commit to in the New Year.
• How would you advise someone in setting their weight-loss goals?
• Dr. Oz: First off, you’ve gotta measure the right thing. I wouldn’t focus on weight; I’d focus on waist. And the reason I say that is because the dangers of obesity are much more related to your waist size than the actual weight you carry around. Your weight can be distributed in your thighs, in your hips, the so-called pear shape, which does not actually offer a mortality risk to you. On the other hand, waist girth in the abdominal area reflects omentum fat—belly fat that’s deep inside the belly, underneath the muscles—that’s fat that’s next to the liver, and it poisons the liver, and it causes inflammation throughout the body. So it is imperative that people have waist sizes that are less than half their height.
• You need to actually clean out the kitchen and get rid of foods that disobey the rule of fives—these are the five ingredients in a food that we know are toxic for you and will increase your belly fat. They include simple sugars—syrups like high-fructose corn syrup. Saturated fat—these are fats that come from animals. Fat that comes from things with faces are often saturated. Trans fats and enriched flours, the simple white flours. Those foods you want to get out of your refrigerator, out of your pantry and replace them with foods that do not have those ingredients in their top five listed, and by doing that you make it easy to do the right thing. So essentially what we’re trying to do is force people to make a difficult decision in the supermarket and not at home.
• If you had to offer only three health tips, what would they be?
• Dr. Oz: If I had to cut it down to three, the first thing I’d say is to have some stretching routine that you do every day. Yoga happens to be my favorite because there’s some muscle-building elements to it as well, and it can be cardiovascular, but the stretch is the important part. Number two is to make sure there is a ton of fiber in the foods you eat because that stabilizes your metabolism so that your mind can work at its best throughout the day. And the third is to make sure there is a purpose for what you’re pursuing. And that sounds sorta soft and touchy-feely for a doctor, but having been a heart surgeon my entire life, when the heart does not have a reason to keep beating, it doesn’t.
• Experts say this generation may not outlive their parents. Do you think that’s true?
• Dr. Oz: I do. I don’t think they’re going to unless we make some changes. I think we can do it. The good news is that obesity rates in kids stabilized last year from the best we can tell. So I think we’re starting to get a lot of people upset about this issue, but we cannot let up at all…I’m just one example, but it is very common for me to operate on 30-year-olds now. That was unheard of when I was training 20 years ago.
• What do you think of TV weight-loss shows?
• Dr. Oz: Of course anything that’s good can be perverted for wrong. At their core, I think these shows are very good shows because they take people having a lot of problems, they train individuals, working with them usually because their show’s investing money to make sure they do well because that’s the foundation for success. And admittedly, sometimes the amount of improvements seen by some of these folks is a little bit greater than you’d ever be able to get on your own, but the challenges they face are representative of yours as a viewer. So I think they’re popular for good reason because so many of us are struggling with weight. And they’re effective if they provide you a role model that you can resonate to.
• During the conversation, Dr. Oz started discussing “blue zones,” areas of the world where it is common for people to live active lives past the age of 100. Dr. Oz discusses the reasons why.
  
• Dr. Oz: It is true that they never joined yoga clubs, but in Okinawa, they had physical ceremonies. It was part of the culture … it’s fascinating to see how they deal with it. They get up in the morning early—when the sun comes up, they’re out. If it’s nice out, they’re out. It doesn’t really matter that they’re not doing yoga class, their physical activity levels are dramatically greater than ours because it’s part of their lives. I was cutting corn with a 99-year-old gentleman in Costa Rica, and he was showing me how to do it, crouched on his knees with a machete I had trouble lifting—but he’d done it his whole life. How fast could he run a football field? Not much. But I think there’s a lot of evidence now that our physical fitness is curtailed more by our lifestyle than by our genetics.

So although we didn’t get our official one-on-one time with Dr. Oz, as you can see, it was well worth it to sit in on a chance to hear his philosophies on health and wellness. Keep spreading the word, Doc! —Erin

Tara Costa is one of my favorite contestants on The Biggest Loser—ever. First, she rocks one of my favorite colors. Second, she’s totally genuine and refreshing, often speaking the truth even when it’s hard. And third, she’s a tough competitor who never gives up and always pushes that extra bit. In fact, during season 7 of the show, she won a BL record-setting eight challenges. Eight! Oh, and on the show she lost 155 pounds (see her before and after photos here), and then later ran a marathon and did a triathalon. I heart her.

Tara grew up in a single-parent home in a small town. With her mother’s lessons in personal achievement and independence, Tara became a plus-size model for a top New York modeling agency, graduated from New York University with honors and accepted a finance position at a large beauty company. In September, she decided to leave her job and her life in New York to get healthy on the show. Which she did, with just as much dynamic personality and candor as she always had, only this time it was in front of millions.

We had the opportunity to ask Tara a few questions about her transformation, her time with Bob and Jillian, and the skinny on her latest achievement—starring and leading the instruction with other popular contestants (including Ali!) in BL’s recent workout DVD release. Here’s the 411 on this inspirational girl’s life post BL ranch!

• FBG: You’re in the The Biggest Loser’s The Workout: 30-Day Jump Start DVD. What was it like filming the DVD?
• TC: Filming the DVD was a first-time experience for me, and I had a blast. Sione, Ali and I worked extremely well together to put together exercises that were fun but also challenging. All of us were breaking a sweat doing these exercises! It was also the first time I met season eight contestants, and it was a great bonding experience. I was able to share with them how I am doing now and what things were difficult/easy for me when I got off the ranch.
• FBG: How similar is the workout DVD to the workouts you did on The Biggest Loser ranch?
• TC: The DVD workouts and the ranch workouts have many similarities. Jillian always liked a core set of exercises but would be able to mix things up when training me. The DVD offers many varieties to working out the same muscle group. The basic movements will stay the same, but as you grow stronger you can add in a little variety and keep it interesting. It is also great for the beginner because we say how the exercise can be modified. We (Sione/Ali/myself) understand that when getting into an exercise routine, you are exhausted after a few short minutes—it’s not easy, but it is worth it!
• FBG: Do you own the new DVD and work out to yourself? That would be awesome!
• TC: LOL, working out to myself is so weird! So yes, I do own them and use them. Lately, I have been traveling a lot, and sometimes I don’t have access to the gym, and it is too late for me to go hit the pavement. I am also a little wary to go running in places I have never been after a recent episode where a man was following me (and he didn’t want to talk about The Biggest Loser). Women: be careful and know your surroundings! What’s hard for me using this DVD is that I am so critical of myself. I hate watching myself on TV, hence why I still have not watched my season of BL!
• FBG: What is your workout routine like now, after The Biggest Loser?
• TC: Once I left the ranch, I went through a major transition. I had to create new patterns and get workouts in when I could. Life wasn’t about exercise then live—it was live then exercise. I really took a liking to running, especially while I was training for the NYC Marathon. Every morning, if my schedule permitted, I would run. There is something about the fresh crisp air that I could not get enough of. I would also supplement running with a yoga or spin class with friends. Now, I am actually training for the Rev3 series of triathlons (Olympic, Half and Full distance) and Heather Gollnick, a pro-triathlete, is training me! It’s just the beginning, but I can already tell it is going to be intense.
• FBG: How hard was the transition from the show to real life? What is your secret to keeping the weight off?
• TC: The transition once leaving the ranch was very difficult for me. For so long, I was losing weight, then it was all over and I was supposed to know how to maintain. I went through a learning curve. For me, every day is hard, but I feel so much stronger and healthier now that I want to stick with it. It really can’t be about a diet; it has to be a way of life. I can’t live on a diet, and I stopped living when I was 300 pounds, so it’s about the balance for me. I am and will always be a work-in-progress, but I have certain things in place that help me. When I am having a rough day and want to eat everything in sight, I take out my little black book. In my little black book you will find lists of reasons of why I wanted to lose the weight so badly, why I want to keep it off, memories of Jillian yelling at me to keep pushing and a few quotes that I like to read when I need encouragement. Also, I try to take it one day at a time. I put sticky notes around my house to remind myself that I get to make a choice every day—to live a lifestyle and that I CAN do it.
• FBG: We know that during the show, you were logging three-plus hours of exercise a day. How much do you work out now and how has your schedule changed now that you are maintaining your weight loss?
• TC: During the show, I was logging around six to eight hours a day! Now, I try to get in a solid one-and-a-half hours in the morning. At night, if my friends are up for doing something, I will take part in an activity (either walking or yoga class). This schedule will be changing though as I prepare for the Rev3 triathlon challenge!
• FBG: While on the show, you were a fierce competitor. What fuels your workouts now? How do you stay motivated?
• TC: Yes, I was a competitor because most if not all of the things I was doing were something I have never done before. Like pulling a car, being on a tight rope or running a marathon, I was pushing myself to see what I can accomplish. Most of the time I surprised myself. The feeling of surprise and “no way, I did not just do that” was AWESOME! Now, I want to continue to challenge myself and keep the awesome feeling alive. I have also come to realize I get the same feeling when I help others do things for the first time—there is something that happens in that moment, and I love to be a part of it.
• FBG: What are your food habits? What do you eat in a normal day?
• TC: I go through food phases! A normal breakfast would be veggie egg white (with one yolk) omelet, turkey bacon and a slice of cinnamon raisin bread or oatmeal with some dried fruit and nuts. For lunch, I love salads with tons of fresh veggies and a bean for protein or an open-face tuna melt with cup of low-sodium tomato soup. For dinner, I have been having lots of fish and various kinds of squash and steamed veggies. For snacks, I always have an apple a day, coffee or latte, and prepackaged trail mix.
• FBG: Do you listen to music while working out? If so, what’s playing on your iPod now?
• TC: I have such an eclectic taste in music. On my iPod, you will get classic rock, pop, country, instrumental, rock—really a little bit of everything. Right now I am on an Anberlin kick.
• FBG: What’s it like to watch The Biggest Loser seasons now, as a Biggest Loser success story? What’s it like to inspire others?
• TC: Watching the show now is nostalgic for me. I love how others are getting to experience what I did and that the network of people who can understand what I went through is constantly growing. All contestants really try to support one another! As far as inspiring others, it is strange for me. I never went on the show and intended to do that. I went on national TV because I needed help so badly. When people tell me how I was able to help them, it is a remarkable feeling. And I now take pride in it. The only way I feel that I can continue to inspire is to be honest and do my best to lead by example.
• FBG: Behind the scenes, what are Bob and Jillian really like?
• TC: Oh boy, Bob and Jillian are such characters. I feel like I am watching myself and my brother, Michael, interact when I see them together. They share a bond together that can’t be put into words. They understand that they are helping not only the contestants but also America transform—but still have a great time doing it. It is like a sibling relationship. There might be some bickering, but when it comes down to it, they are always there for one another.
• FBG: What’s your current big fitness goal? And what can we expect from you in 2010?
• TC: As I mentioned earlier, my next big fitness goal is the Revolution3 series of triathlons. The first Olympic distance is on May 9 in Knoxville, TN (.9-mile swim, 24.8-mile bike, 6.2-mile run). The second event, half distance at Quassy in Middlebury, CT (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run). And finally the full distance triathlon at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run)! I know—it is crazy, but I hope to be able to encourage others to take part in the challenge with me or at least part of it. I never thought I would do something like this, but why not give it a shot? All of you can be a part of Team Tara! As far as other things, cooking in the kitchen…I am in the process of writing a book! This book is not about my life, but more about what I have realized through a life transformation. It’s upbeat, funny and inspirational, plus I get to share some of my personal stories with the reader.
• FBG: Any other words of wisdom or advice for our Fit Bottomed Girl readers?
• TC: Don’t let “other things” get in your way of doing something that truly makes you happy. I understand it is hard to make time, especially time for you. For me, when I am truly happy, I am able to give more to my family and friends. Everyone is better off!

We’re sooo on Team Tara! Stay tuned for tomorrow when we review both Tara’s 30-Day Jump Start and Last Chance Workout. Oh The Biggest Loser fun! —Jenn

Jillian Michaels, isn’t just a tough trainer from The Biggest Loser. She’s a bestselling author (check in tomorrow for a review of her book) and now has her own upcoming show on NBC, Losing It with Jillian. Now Jillian is jumping into the nutritional waters, introducing a line of weight-control supplements. She says she’s always been an advocate of supplements for boosting metabolic function and supporting weight-loss, and she took matters into her own hands to help make a product that is made with natural ingredients.

While the FBGs always take our multivitamins to be on the safe side, Jillian’s supplements—dubbed the QuickStart Rapid Weight Loss System—are aimed at appetite control and fat burning. Always skeptical journalists, we went to Jillian herself to get the scoop. While she ducked some of our juicy Biggest Loser questions, she gladly gave us her thoughts on her new supplement system.

• FBG: Why did you feel the need to create a supplement line?
• Jillian Michaels: I’ve been doing this for a lot of years. As many people know, before I became a successful TV trainer, life coach and author, I was just another overweight kid with low self-esteem. So believe me, I know what being overweight is all about. But I took the necessary steps to change my life. I finally overcame, and I wanted to help make it possible for others to do so. For quite some time I’ve been searching for compounds that would help overcome the two greatest pitfalls to successful weight loss: first, not having the willpower to actually reduce your caloric intake (follow a diet plan); and second, not seeing and feeling results quickly enough to motivate you to continue toward a healthier life. My new products are designed to cut through all the diet jargon and help you get the results you want.
• FBG: What makes your supplement line different from what’s currently on the market?
• JM: In the first place, they actually work! As you likely are aware, there are a lot of fly-by-night companies in the weight-loss business. But I wouldn’t put my name on a product unless I truly believed in it and in its quality. The compounds we use are proprietary and unique, and the extractions are the purest available. That may not sound that impressive, but you truthfully can’t get this quality and composition of ingredients anywhere else in the world. In making effective, natural weight-loss formulations, the important thing is the active compounds have to be as pure as possible, and be the same compound or herb as in the published studies showing them to be effective. AND the extraction process must be the same high quality as used in the clinical studies. Quality control is therefore extremely important. Putting all of these things together is a time-consuming and very exacting process.
• FBG: Because supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, how are you ensuring that your supplements are effective, natural and safe?
• JM: Because of my TV connections, I’ve been lucky enough to have access to some of the best bariatric scientists in the field. Over the past few years, I’ve spoken personally to some of the leading experts in the field of obesity from around the world. I know what the problems are, and kept on asking the experts, “Are there any natural compounds that will really help reduce caloric intake and help with fat burning?” The experts I spoke to kept on pointing to these two formulations (the Calorie Control and Fat Burner compounds). So I read about them, asked around, read the studies, spoke to more experts, and I firmly believe these are the absolute best natural compounds to help people who want to lose weight.
• FBG: Should most people who are trying to get fit or drop some pounds take supplements? Do they need to if they’re eating healthy and hitting the gym?
• JM: You know I’m going to tell you that exercise is extremely important, for two reasons: First, it makes you look good. Exercise tones your body and helps give you attractive muscular structure and curves. This boosts self-esteem and makes you want to keep doing it. Second, exercise makes you healthy. It’s good for you. There is simply no substitute for regular strenuous exercise (if you’re in otherwise good health). Interestingly enough, overweight people often have more muscle mass because they’ve built up muscle to carry around all that extra weight. The key is getting rid of the excess fat hiding what could be a rock hard, lean, trim body underneath. And in many cases you simply can’t exercise your way to significant weight loss. That begins with caloric restriction. That’s where my new Calorie Control supplement comes in. It helps reduce your caloric intake automatically, so you’re actually dieting without feeling like you are. As you lose the excess weight, you start looking and feeling better and want to keep working hard. Plus, exercise becomes easier as you start to drop excess pounds and get lighter.

A big thanks to Jillian for breaking it down for us. Hopefully we can get you back in the FitStars hot seat so we can ask our burning Biggest Loser questions! Be sure to check back tomorrow for more Jillian content, including a review of her book, Master Your Metabolism, and her latest DVDs. —Erin