Diet Artis Hollywood

dang_anom

Best known as: Grammy-winning recording artist
How much she lost: 20 pounds in about six months, says the National Enquirer.
How she did it: By cutting out calorie-dense foods and carbs (plus all fast foods and desserts), and sticking with fish, grilled chicken and salads.



Expert's take: "A lot of people treat diets like an 'on/off' switch: when they're on the diet they're no longer eating fast foods, red meat, dessert, etc," says Blake. "But when you make food forbidden, you put it on a pedestal, and suddenly it has this power that it doesn't deserve. You should have the power, not the food. Otherwise, any diet can backfire."

dang_anom

Best known as: Queen of Daytime TV
How much she lost: 80 pounds in 2005. In December 2008, she admitted to putting on 40 lbs and discovered she had a thyroid issue.
How she did it: Exercise (getting in 10,000 steps a day) and avoiding starches helped her lose weight initially. In 2010, she told viewers that she had an obsession with food and for years felt "lost" because of her eating habits, which she was trying to control over again. But she has largely avoided talking specifically about her weight since 2009.



Expert's take: "Walking is good for your mind, heart and waist and all you need is a pair of sneakers," says Blake. "Do it with a buddy or a pet." Eating starches in moderation might work better, in the long run, than avoiding them. As for the thyroid issue, "nothing is worse than trying and failing to lose weight. Check with your doctor if your diet isn't working, or before you make drastic changes, to rule out any medical condition and make sure the approach works for you."

dang_anom

Best known as: Daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, contestant on Dancing with the Stars, star of MTV's reality series The Osbournes
How much she lost: 42 pounds
How she did it: Hard-core exertion on Dancing with the Stars while maintaining a healthy, low-carb diet. She now throws Pilates into the mix.



Expert's take: "Dancing is a great way to lose weight!" says Blake. "If you avoid the gym because you hate planned physical activity, doing something active yet fun will ensure you get your exercise." Instead of thinking 'low-carb' or 'no-carb,' Blake says to arrange your plate with a palm-size serving of protein and a heaping amount of fruits and veggies; fill the rest of the plate with whole grains.

dang_anom

Best known as: Former co-host on The View
How much she lost: 160 pounds
How she did it: Gastric bypass surgery (she was 300 pounds at her heaviest)



Expert's take: "Bariatric surgery is not for everyone," says Blake. "It is only meant for the severely obese, and even then it's not a done deal. The size of your stomach might shrink, but sipping milkshakes all day will put the weight back on. You have to work with a dietician before and after the surgery."

dang_anom

Best known as: Carmen Ferrara on Popular, Claude Casey on Less Than Perfect
How much she lost: 50 pounds
How she did it:  Jenny Craig – she's a spokesperson. She says she learned portion control, started eating healthier and, finally, enjoying exercise.



Expert's take: "It sounds like Sara has learned from her experience on Jenny Craig," says Blake. "She's changed her habits so the weight stays off."

dang_anom

Best known as: Host of talk show Ricki Lake, Tracy Turnblad in the original Hairspray (1988)
How much she lost: 140 pounds
How she did it: By starting a new routine consisting of a vegetarian diet (1,200 calories per day with proteins, complex carbs and healthy fats) plus exercise. To ease the transition, she signed up with Fresh Dining, a daily food-delivery service in southern California.



Expert's take: "1,200 calories is very low," says Blake. "With such a drastic diet, it's hard to make sure you get enough food to provide the nutrients, and energy, you need." Vegetarians especially must make sure to eat variety of fortified foods to get vital nutrients like Vitamin B12. "Fresh Direct is very expensive, costing upwards of $30 per day. If you're laying out that money, you'd better use the experience to learn how to fend for yourself."

dang_anom

Best known as: NBC’s Today show weather anchor
How much he lost: 140 pounds
How he did it: Gastric bypass surgery. He was 340 pounds at his heaviest, and now holds his weight steady by controlling calories and running in Central Park. “You have to be constantly vigilant,” he says.  



Expert’s take: “Al’s not relying on his bypass surgery to do the grunt work for him,” says Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD, spokesperson for the ADA and associate professor of nutrition at Boston University. “Even though his stomach has shrunk, he’s working hard to change his lifestyle, which is key to his success.”

dang_anom

Best known as: Co-host of Donny and Marie, contestant on Dancing with the Stars
How much she lost: 50 pounds
How she did it: Nutrisystem (she’s a spokeswoman): a “no-brainer” meal delivery service.



Expert’s take: “To keep the weight off, she’d better pay attention to the meals she’s getting delivered -- types of food plus portion sizes -- and replicate them in her own kitchen after the subscription ends,” says Blake. “Only then does it become a lifestyle change and not a diet.”

dang_anom

sharon osbourne
Best known as: Reality TV star on The Osbournes
How much she lost: 100 pounds
How she did it: Lap-band surgery in 1999




Expert’s take: “When your stomach is cinched, it’s essential to pack all your nutrients into smaller meals,” says Blake. “If you don’t eat nutrient-rich foods, you’ll lack energy; and sipping milkshakes all day will just put the pounds back on. You have to choose wisely.”
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dang_anom

carnie wilson: yo-yo dieter alert!
Best known as: One-third of the singing group Wilson Phillips
How much she lost: 150 pounds
How she did it: Gastric bypass surgery in 1999. After putting on excess weight while pregnant last year, she’s working with Dr. Mehmet Oz on a healthy diet and exercise plan, with a target weight of 150 pounds.




Expert’s take: “It’s important to work with a doctor to make sure you address the underlying medical issues that might be contributing to your weight,” says Blake. “He can also help Carnie break unhealthy habits, choose foods that keep her satiated, and eat only when she’s hungry, not out of boredom or habit.”

dang_anom

courtney love

Best known as: Actress, lead singer of the band Hole and wife of the late Kurt Cobain
How much she lost: 44 pounds
How she did it: Following a macrobiotic diet, eating vegetables and fish while making time for yoga and exercise




Expert’s take: “A macrobiotic diet [with its emphasis on whole grains and certain vegetables] can be very limiting, forbidding entire food groups that have nutrients you can’t get anywhere else,” says Blake. “Fish and veggies, while healthy, can’t replace all the nutrients that are in grains and dairy. Plus, eating only two things every day can drive you crazy.”

dang_anom

seth rogan
Best known as: Actor in Knocked Up
How much he lost: 30 pounds in 9 months
How he did it: Working out with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak and following Harley’s 5-Factor Diet plan, which involves eating 5 meals per day with 5 nutritional elements that contain no more than 5 ingredients -- plus a 5-day exercise plan (and a weekly “cheat day”).



Expert’s take: “This rate of weight loss is fantastic -- nice and slow,” says Blake. “The ‘5’ rule sounds like it’s designed to allow a variety of foods to meet his nutritional needs, mixing things up so it doesn’t get boring.”

dang_anom

robin quivers
Best known as: Radio news anchor and sidekick on The Howard Stern Show
How much she lost: 70 pounds
How she did it: By following detox diets including: The Master Cleanse (a.k.a. The Lemonade diet -- which calls for fasting) and 21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha’s Vineyard Diet Detox (which involves three weeks of “not chewing”: drinking juices, vegetable purees, broths, herbal teas and supplements such as enzymes and vitamins, plus colonics and coffee enemas to clear out the bowels.



Expert’s take: “You have a natural detox in your body,” says Blake. “It’s called the liver. You don’t need to fast, you don’t need to subsist on liquids, and you certainly don’t need coffee enemas. Losing 21 pounds in 21 days is downright dangerous -- you’re starving your body of nutrition and getting so little protein that your body will start to break down its own muscle mass.”

dang_anom

ron lester
Best known as: Actor; played Billy Bob in Varsity Blues (1999)
How much he lost: 315 pounds -- he was 508 at his heaviest
How he did it: Gastric bypass surgery, followed by multiple surgeries to remove excess skin




Expert’s take: “I can’t even imagine the habits he picked up to take him to 508 pounds,” says Blake. “At that weight, surgery makes sense, but he needs to pick up all new habits when it comes to eating and moving around. He should make sure to eat for nourishment only -- never out of boredom or auto-pilot.”

dang_anom

michael moore
Best known as: Filmmaker (Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Sicko)
How much he lost: 70 pounds
How he did it: By eliminating salt, sugar and white flour from his diet




Expert’s take: “Getting rid of white flour can be code for scrapping cookies and candies,” says Blake. “Getting rid of salt can be code for cutting down on snack foods like chips. Basically you’ve eliminated empty calories. What’s left is lean meats, dairy, fruits, veggies and whole grains: the basis of a diet that’s good for your heart and waist. If he ever chooses to have desserts again, he should eat them in moderation.”

dang_anom

missy “misdemeanor” elliott
Best known as: Recording artist and music producer
How much she lost: 50 to 70 pounds
How she did it: Making healthier food choices, using portion control, drinking more water and exercising with a trainer




Expert’s take: “That’s the name of the game: better food choices and regular exercise,” says Blake. “When water replaces soft drinks or energy drinks, you’ve shaved major calories without changing anything else. A trainer, like a workout buddy, can hold you accountable for getting to the gym and not blowing it off.”

dang_anom

dan marino
Best known as: Hall of Fame former NFL Quarterback for the Miami Dolphins
How much he lost: 22 pounds
How he did it: Nutrisystem weight loss program




Expert’s take: “Again, Nutrisystem is a breeze when you’re getting the meals delivered,” says Blake. “But you need to pay attention to the foods and portions to survive in the real world once the program’s done.”

dang_anom

randy jackson
Best known as: Judge on American Idol
How much he lost: 100 pounds
How he did it: Gastric bypass surgery




Expert’s take: “Randy’s diabetes was a big motivator for him to get the weight off,” says Blake. “This is a great example of how someone can benefit from weight-loss surgery.”

dang_anom

Best known as: Actress, with title roles in Clarissa Explains It All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch
How much she lost: 42 pounds in 14 months after the birth of her second son in 2008
How she did it: By working with a nutritionist to change her diet and a trainer at the gym



Expert’s take: “Slow and steady wins the race -- a rate of three pounds a week means you’re losing the weight by changing your habits and not doing anything drastic,” says Blake.

dang_anom

nicole eggert
Best known as: Actress (Jamie Powell on Charles in Charge and Summer Quinn on Baywatch); contestant on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club
How much she lost: 15 pounds in 4 months; 10 pounds as a contestant on Celebrity Fit Club
How she did it: Revamping her eating habits (“lots of salad”) and committing to exercise (hiking, the treadmill and workouts from the cable channel ExerciseTV)




Expert’s take: “Salads are Mother Nature’s magic foods for weight loss,” says Blake. “The fruits and veggies have the fiber and water to fill you up, not out. And eating salad before a meal can reduce your total calories consumed by 10 percent. That makes a huge difference.”