NW - Pg 68, Inside Diet: “Desperate Housewives’ Diet Secrets”

I’ve never watched “Desperate Housewives”, but I’m no stranger to the massive press surrounding the actresses, or their various physiques. If this article is to be believed, these mega wealthy women lead very balanced lives exercise and diet wise. I didn’t know Eva Longoria was a former aerobics instructor, but I did read somewhere she works out with her trainer three or four times a week. Teri Hatcher prefers pole and lap dancing workouts, Marcia Cross does 90 minute power yoga classes, and Nicollete Sheridan plays volleyball.

While they all admit to having diet weaknesses, on a day to day front they seem to have their act together - but when you’re on set and someone else is preparing at least two out of three meals a day, it’s probably easier to eat well (if you steer clear of the desserts). Although this page has some good info, it left me feeling a little … meh. **

New Idea, Pg 38: Iron Woman
Article on getting the best iron intake from your food. It includes a checklist of symptoms of low iron, and ways to get your levels back up by adjusting your diet. A third of the article is a “swap this for that” style pictorial, with main meal options and two ideas for snacks. Good info ***

Pg 66: Get fit with Guy

This page puts the myth of spot reducing (working a particular area of your body to lose weight only there) to rest. I once had a female client who wanted to train five days a week and only work on her legs and butt, and no matter how many times I tried to explain she needed cardio, and couldn’t only train legs without some serious repercussions, she didn’t care. I eventually bargained her down to three days, but then she got angry because her butt got perkier and she couldn’t fit into her Bettina Liano jeans anymore.

So it’s good to see Guy explain in sensible, easy to understand language what you need to do to make a difference to any trouble spots you might have. He uses a great anecdote from Serena Williams to put it into perspective, and he also mentions everybody reacts to exercise differently.

I think the exercise list undermines his point somewhat, as saying crunches and situps are ideal for a problem tummy is actually crap. What’s ideal for a problem tummy is eating well, cardio, and resistance - sit ups won’t make any difference - as Guy himself points out in the second sentence of this article. Apart from that ***

Pg 69, Food Untruths

Helen Wellings, who usually sorts out consumer problems for people with dodgy video recorders on this page, has some interesting advice for people who are looking for healthy food options, but not up with label reading.

If you buy prepackaged food at the supermarket, this is a great article to read. Flick to it while you’re waiting in the checkout, and go through your trolley using Helen’s tips. You might feel like putting some of your shopping back on the shelf. ***

OK, Pg 86: Body talk with Giuliana Depandi

If you’re asking “who?”, you probably didn’t spend years watching E! News on Foxtel like me. She’s now doing the Oscars red carpet interviews, so this is almost more of a plug for the Oscars than her body.

She trains with Madonna’s Pilates trainer, who says Madonna does four hours of Pilates a day, five to seven days a week, including 900 jumping jacks every time. Yes, jumping jacks are so very Pilates … sorry, I digress, but it’s just so ridiculous!

Apart from that insane gossip, there’s nothing spectacular about Giuliana to report. She limits dessert, tries to eat salmon once a day, and loves Nutella on white bread. Honestly, I’d prefer to read about Salma Hayek’s body, which is gorgeous, and I’m sure she’d eat some interesting food, too. *