Back in April, Jennifer Love Hewitt surprised her fans with a short new hairdo! This pageboy looked like it came straight out of the fashion magazines of the 60’s, and was rather startling to those of us who’d become familiar with her long-locked look. Extensions soon gave Jennifer’s hair some added length, but she did look kind of cute with her shorter, sassier ‘do!

Jennifer, whose CBS-TV series “The Ghost Whisperer” was a modest hit, admits she’s one of those lucky gals who can eat as much as she wants and barely put on a pound! As she says, “I eat everything insight. Eating is my favorite thing to do.” When that urge to munch strikes, the actress turns to favorite fare like sour candy, ice cream, apple pecan pie and cupcakes.

But Jennifer’s diet isn’t just made up of sweet treats! She’s tried the GI (Glycemic Index) Diet, which lists foods according to the speed at which food is broken down and converted to glucose in the body. Foods like white bread and rice are forbidden on this plan, which encourages the consumption of foods like whole grains, fish, vegetables and yogurt.

The actress says her busy schedule keeps her slim without needing elaborate exercise sessions. She does enjoy dancing, especially ballet and hip-hop, and also has attended striptease aerobics classes. The actress has worked with personal trainers in the past; a few years ago, she and fitness pro Vicki Van Hoosen teamed up several times a week for sessions that were a combination of dance, step aerobics, kickboxing and martial arts.

(resource: Diet & Exercise Fall 2006)

Tag:Jennifer Love Hewitt, Misc., Sexy Body Secrets, Star Secrets, tips

What type of music do you hear? Why do you like that particular music? There’s must be something in that music that makes you enjoy.

Do you know that music motivates us almost effortlessly? Yes, that’s true, and it certainly makes us exercise harder and longer, and also makes us stick to fitness over time. Music simply makes exercise more pleasurable, and the proof is more than anecdotal. A University of Kansas Study followed 18 participants through 4 sets of movements on stationary bikes (all at the same intensity). 3 of the sets were accompanied by music: up-tempo, classical and self-selected. The fourth set was done without music. Not surprisingly, the participants reported that the workouts done to music felt easier.

Today, music’s positive influence isn’t limited to in-studio fitness classes or dance classes. With the explosion of portable music devices, music has hit the road, treadmill, stair climber, weight room, etc. Fortunately for us, virtually any workout can be enhanced with music.

But there are some things to consider when creating your own perfect exercise mix:

1) Create a mixture of motivating and relaxing music that is in sync with your workout. Start with mildly up-tempo music as you warm up; have the tempo of the songs increase gradually as your workout gets more intense, then finish with something smooth and relaxing as you cool down and stretch.

2) During cardio, consider the beats per minute (bpm) in each song. Too many bpm can increase your risk of injury, as you struggle to do each movement and keep pace with the music. Too few, and you may not raise your heart rate to a training level. The recommended range for cardio workout is 125 to 150 bpm.

3) Look for music that offers a more relaxing tempo during yoga, Pilates or stretching workouts, such as classical, jazz or new age.

4) Opt for “pure” music, preferably a selection of songs on tape, CD or MP3. In other words, avoid the radio, which is filled with advertisements and other distractions that can kill the momentum of your workout.

5) Watch the volume.To avoid dangers such as noise-induced hearing loss and/or the inability to hear traffic/movement around you, make sure your volume is set so that you can carry on a conversation without having to remove your headphones.

Don’t forget that music can enhance your health outside of the gym as well. It has a calming effect that can reduce anxiety and stress, which in turn, can positively impact blood pressure, muscular tension, overeating and getting quality sleep.