Celebrities are real people. They go to the grocery store (unless their assistant goes for them), drive cars (if their driver has the day off), and their weight fluctuates.
Diet companies have a recent history of corralling celebrities into being their spokespeople, but is this the best marketing strategy? People who see a celebrity as a diet spokesperson believe that they “know” the person who is losing weight right in front of them. So what happens when this known person gains the weight back?
We all remember Kirstie Alley‘s shining moment on Oprah as she danced around in her bathing suit after her weight loss on Jenny Craig. Jenny Craig gave her the boot when she gained her weight back and she was back on Oprah, this time with conservative dress and a solemn look on her face.
Notorious yo-yo dieter Carnie Wilson was the spokesdieter for The Fresh Diet and had a successful start with a 20 pound weight-loss.
“She dropped, like, 20 pounds in the first three months. Then she, I mean, she had to go off of it. There’s no question. She might have eaten the meals, but she ate the meals with a lot of other stuff. She started a cheesecake company.” Zalmi Duchman, chief executive for Fresh Diets, said.
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With the first day of school already taking place in some parts of the country, and plans starting to be made for Labor Day weekend, it’s clear that summer is about to give way to fall. Checking in with yourself at the start of fall can be a good idea. As active as summer can be, summers like this where the heat seems to break a new record each day can leave us sitting inside just trying to stay cool, never mind working out. With the kids back in school and you back in control of your schedule, there’s no time like the present to re-start your weight loss efforts.
We’ve identified seven programs that, so far this year, really stand-out as leaders, offering their customers healthful, balanced approaches to weight loss and healthful living. Consider these for your fall weight loss resolution.

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U.S. News and World Report is famous (and in some cases infamous) for ranking products, institutions and services of all kinds, be it cars, colleges or diets. Yesterday, they released diet rankings in a number of categories, most notably the best commercial diets and the best diets for weight loss. They also created a list for both the best diabetic diets and the best heart-healthy diets, and a list of best overall diets.
U.S. News reports that they spent six month researching diets, and then had a panel of 22 health experts score the diet on seven different criteria. The diet was judged on its nutritional completeness, its safety, its ability to prevent or manage diabetes, its ability to prevent or manage heart disease, short-term weight loss, long-term weight loss and how easy it is to follow.
It’s little surprise to us that Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig topped both lists, as multiple studies have shown these two diets to be effective. Below are the top eight diets from the best commercial diets and the best diets for weight loss.
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Photo: Star Wars Wikia
It’s been nearly 35 years since Carrie Fisher first made the hearts of science fiction nerds all around the world skip a beat as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. But even a Princess can’t stop the sands of time and the weight loss difficulties that come with aging.
Since last November, Fisher has been endorsing the Jenny Craig diet and has apparently been reaping the diet’s benefits – she has reportedly lost 30 pounds.
“I feel much better,” Fisher, 54, tells People. “My blood pressure is down.”
Back in her Star Wars heyday, Fisher was a very petite 105 pounds, but like anyone else who goes on to live a sedentary lifestyle, the pounds began to pile on.
Last year Fisher decided to go public with her weight issues. In her autobiography, Fisher reveals that she has suffered from bipolar disorder and drug issues. However, it wasn’t until she went on tour to perform her autobiographical play entitled “Wishful Drinking” in 2009 that her weight started to go up.
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Weight loss for kids is a touchy topic. It’s a polarizing issue with almost no middle ground, but rarely is it cut and dried. With obesity rates ever climbing and adult diseases appearing in younger and younger children, it’s become apparent that these are areas of concern that need to be addressed.
One of the most visible age groups to struggle with their weight would be the teenager. If you have a teenager struggling with weight issues, it may be a discussion that your child doesn’t want to have with you. How can you face this problem without alienating your child?
Weight loss for teens is challenging, as their bodies are constantly growing and changing and height has not yet finished in many cases. An extensive review of your child’s height and weight with their doctor is essential. The most effective weight loss plans for anyone involve a combination of diet, exercise and healthy living and place emphasis on creating a healthy lifestyle change. There are many diet plans that are geared towards teenagers; here are a few of the best.
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