Instead of following unrealistic plans and cutting out their favorite foods, these celebrities have adopted health eating, exercise and lifestyle habits.
In all my years counseling clients — including many celebrities and dignitaries who must remain unnamed — I’ve never recommended celebrity-endorsed quick fixes like cleanses over common sense. But whether I like it or not, celebrity fad diets are often mimicked by their fans of all ages, who may be vulnerable to eating disorders and unrealistic expectations about how these eating plans will actually change their lives (or not). Fortunately, there are a few celebrities whose eating, exercise and lifestyle habits my colleagues and I applaud. Here are a few famous folks you can follow with a clear conscience (for now, at least).
1. Lady Gaga
After suffering for many years with everything from bullying to bulimia, Lady Gaga dropped 25 to 30 pounds with a low-glycemic index diet. Gaga is said to have followed the 5-Factor Diet, only eating healthy foods from five categories — healthy fats, fiber, “low-glycemic” carbohydrates, protein and sugarless drinks. (The glycemic index ranks foods by the speed at which they raise blood sugar levels as they get digested.) She avoided highly-processed meats, fried foods, foods high in saturated fat (like butter, ice cream and desserts), simple carbohydrates (including white bread and white rice) and sugary treats. Her plan included eating five times per day, usually broken down into two meals and three light snacks.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File
While Gaga’s focus on whole foods is commendable, I probably wouldn’t recommend her plan long-term since some of the foods she avoided are rich in important nutrients (a potato, for example, has twice the potassium of a banana and most of us don’t meet our potassium needs). If you want to keep blood sugar levels stable without feeling like you’re on a roller coaster, consume carbohydrates along with protein, fat or both (think almond butter on your toast or Greek yogurt on your baked potato). This powerful combo may calm your mood and make you feel more emotionally and physically satisfied.
Gaga also turned her bad romance into good habits by exercising at least 25 minutes five times a week, including practicing yoga. And, while you don’t have to work out like Gaga, but you should try to do something active daily. Ride a bike, take your dog for a walk or — in her words — just dance!
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
AP Photo/Darron Cummings
2. Oprah Winfrey
You could say one of Oprah’s favorite things is the diet she follows from Weight Watchers, which U.S. News ranks No. 1 for weight loss. Joan Salge Blake, a registered dietitian in Boston and author of “Nutrition & You,” picks Oprah as a diet “celebrity crush” because Oprah achieved her 40-pound weight loss while enjoying an eating pattern and lifestyle that contains less sugar and heart-unhealthy saturated fat, and more fruits and veggies, movement and mindfulness. Unlike most celebrity-endorsed diet programs, Salge Blake points out that Weight Watchers is reasonably affordable. But if Weight Watchers is still more than you’d like to spend to trim pounds, try logging on to MyPlate.gov for a free weight-reducing diet you can tailor to your needs.
(Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File)
Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File
3. Eva Mendez
Eva Mendez has said she includes rice and beans, a dish she grew up with and adores, in her diet. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or not, it’s so important to eat foods you love on a regular basis. She also reportedly makes sure to drink plenty of water, which is essential for healthy hydration and to help move foods along in the system. My one caution with prescribing Eva’s eating pattern: She’s said to eat the same meals for lunch and dinner every day, while I think it’s important to have variety in your diet — especially in terms of fruits and vegetables — to give you enough different nutrients. Having variety also helps beat boredom and ensures a great chance of sticking to a plan.
AVENTURA, FL – JULY 25: Eva Mendes launches Estee Lauder New Dimension Skincare at Nordstrom Aventura on July 25, 2015 in Aventura, Florida.
(Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for Estee Lauder)
Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for Estee Lauder
4. Jillian Michaels
Jillian Michaels, of former Biggest Loser glory, is not a fan of elimination diets and encourages people to follow an 80/20 nutrition lifestyle — 80 percent of the time focused on healthy eating and 20 percent of the time taking a more relaxed, moderate approach. Brynn McDowell, a registered dietitian and owner of The Domestic Dietitian, points out that Michaels gives tips on her blog for people who are looking to develop a healthy relationship with food and encourages people to take the time to educate themselves about what’s in the foods they eat. McDowell appreciates that Michaels encourages people to read the nutrition facts panel on packages and to stick to foods with short ingredients lists. Michaels advocates for packing your lunch to alleviate the difficulty of choosing foods from restaurant menus while saving money at the same time.
(Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP)
Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP
5. Candace Bure
Candace Bure, who first made a name for herself on Full House, is proud to show off her diet and fitness regimen on her Instagram account along with the help of her certified personal trainer, Kira Stokes. Angie Asche, a sports dietitian and Owner of Eleat Sports Nutrition, particularly likes Bure’s messages about how, in spite of being busy on the set of “Fuller House,” she seems to a squeeze in a few minutes of exercise each day. Her workouts are high-intensity interval training, which Asche practices with her clients. Asche also emphasizes the importance of letting your body rest and recover, especially after intense workouts. Bure doesn’t promote any diet fads, cleanses or quick fixes. Instead, she posts meals featuring lean protein, fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Bure leaves some room for splurging with foods like carrot cake, cupcakes and pizza, rather than severely restricting herself from her favorite foods.
(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Most celebrities (and unfortunately, even us common folk) frequently drop weight by following unrealistic plans and by cutting out favorite foods. But why would you ever want to cut love out of your life in any form? The key to successful, long-term weight loss and maintenance is learning how to shift your priorities and still include foods you love, but make the majority of your foods those that will also make you love the way you look and feel. A diet should never be like a light bulb that you turn on and off. Like anything else in life, balance is the goal, not black-and-white thinking.
(Thinkstock)
