Anne Hathaway stars in the legendary role of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises (a role previously defined by actresses such as Halle Berry and Michelle Pfeiffer). She certainly has some pretty big shoes to fill – but at the same time, a tiny suit.

“That catsuit – it’s unforgiving, man,” Anne recently joked to Chelsea Handler. “It takes three of us to get me into it.” To look her best in the skintight outfit (as well as keep up with the character’s martial arts background), the naturally slim actress had to perfect a fitness regimen that would help her lose weight while keeping her power up. “I’ve always thought that skinny was the goal, but with this job I also have to be strong,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. Anne Hathaway is no stranger to rigorous workout routines for preparing as we’ve previously covered. Now, her new workout routine includes five days a week of high-intensity workouts and stunt training, followed by a 1.5-hour dance class to keep her lean. She named sit ups, tricep curls, and bench kicks among her most common exercises in her workout routing, and has also started up Bikram yoga.

Anne Hathaway, who used to despise working out, says she has grown to love it. She hits the gym with her stunt double, Maxine – who Anne proudly claims has amazing arms. “I want guns like hers! I want to be strong, I want to lift my own luggage. We just go the gym and work out. We’ll be sitting there doing bicep curls and be like, ‘Cake. Chardonnay. Spray tans.’ We decided we’re going to go on a binge afterwards.”

When she’s not pushing herself to her fitness limit, Anne is prepping for the role by taking on an extreme diet. “Brown rice? That’s too exotic,” she joked on Regis and Kelly. “I’m living on just kale and dust. It had to be a lifestyle change.”

If you’re interested in taking on Anne Hathaway’s kale diet, you can create a less strict version by creatively varying recipes. For example, check out recipes for still-healthy yet far more satisfying kale dishes:

Baked kale chips:
Ingredients:
1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Directions:
1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a non insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt.
3. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

Braised kale:
Ingredients:
2 pound bunch kale
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup chicken stock

Directions:
Wash, trim and chop the kale. In a large pot heat oil and lightly saute garlic. Add kale and chicken stock. Cook covered for 12 minutes.

Remember to check out Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises.

Sources: latimes, Food Network

This week while running on the treadmill, doing my usual routine of reading a magazine, I discovered that two of my favorite things had joined forces! First, the new edition of my FAVORITE cooking magazine Clean Eating hit the shelves. I immediately scooped it up and brought it to the gym. Second, my favorite reality TV star and health food chef Bethenny Frankel did an interview in the magazine! This was perfect timing because I have really been missing her presence on Bravo.

With Thanksgiving exactly one week away and the holidays right around the corner, Bethenny offered Clean Eating some valuable holiday diet tips for getting through the season while maintaining your fit and fabulous figure. Check out what Bethenny Franked had to say, and next time you are in the market pick up a copy of Clean Eating! If you are a healthy eater like me, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

The first of Bethenny’s holiday diet tips was not to make eating habits “obsessive or extreme.” She says, “Most people make resolutions in January, which are just these big grand statements – they’re not sustainable and can’t be maintained. It’s more about easing into it and developing a food voice. Your diet is a bank account, so you should have an internal dialogue throughout the day about what you’ve already eaten and what you should still consume to balance that out. If you had a couple bites of chocolate cake, be aware of that later on and opt to not have cheesecake as well.”

Bethenny Frankel also described some staples she keeps in her kitchen, which help her throw a healthy and delicious meal together. She says, “Pesto and sun-dried tomatoes can always help add a bit more flavor to a quick pasta, but you may want to keep in mind that they are somewhat perishable. Frozen vegetables are also great: I like to keep spinach, peas and even butternut squash in my freezer. And definitely lemon, olive oil, garlic, parsley, sea salt and black pepper – they can turn fish, grains or almost anything into something delicious.” Great ideas! I have been throwing a cup of frozen spinach into store bought pasta sauce lately to add an extra punch of nutrients.

Next Bethenny cleared up some food myths. “Many people think that anything you can buy in a health food store is inherently healthy, which is absolutely not the case. Even those retailers sell energy drinks, products with ingredients you can’t pronounce and a lot of junk “health” food. A great deal of vegan and vegetarian fare is also processed, but many consumers believe that these foods are automatically healthy. For example, many soy cheeses and textured soy protein have tons of foreign ingredients. And, many consumers thing that fat-free foods are better for you, when, in fact, they often contain more chemicals or sugars to make up for the loss of fat. People are definitely misguided. I think we should eat real food.” Always check the ingredients on food labels! Often if you can’t pronounce most of the ingredients on the list, the item is not as healthy as you hope.

Finally, Bethenny provided some insight on how to entertain during the holiday season without gaining winter weight. She says, “There are healthier versions of everything. And you don’t have to sacrifice anything when it comes to flavor. You just have to find ways to make the things you love by renovating them, such as a healthy sweet potato souffle, gravy, chicken wings or even blue cheese dip. Everything can be revamped!” “When you’re at a cocktail party, here’s a trick to navigating the buffet table and hors d’oeuvres: Go for the high-volume investments first, even if you don’t want them! Reach for the vegetables then perhaps the high-protein options, such as shrimp, to fill yourself up. Start with the healthier menu items and you’ll be better equipped to enjoy just a small amount of the more decadent fare later on (without stomach pangs!).”

Check out Bethenny Frankel’s website for more tips and recipes. Also check out my previous posts on her!

The Tourist, starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, hit theaters in 2010. Personally, I can hardly imagine a better pair for the big screen. I am still in love with Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean. And Angelina is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and highly discussed ladies in Hollywood. Some admire Angelina’s slender frame (especially after giving birth to three children), while others think she would look healthier if she gained a few pounds. Although there is rarely a week where Angelina Jolie does not appear in the tabloids, there is not much information out about her workout and diet. Here is what I found!

Diet – Everything in Moderation, Including Red Meat!

Many celebrities have adopted a vegetarian diet. These fit and fabulous celebs include Lea Michele, Lisa Edelstein, Kristin Bell, and Alicia Silverstone. But NOT Angelina Jolie! The famously thin actress gave up her vegan diet years ago, and now attributes her health to eating steak. According to the Examiner, Angelina says, “I joke that a big, juicy steak is my beauty secret.” “But seriously, I love red meat.” ”I was a vegan for a long time, and it nearly killed me. I found I was not getting enough nutrition.”

Overall, Angelina Jolie eats everything in moderation. According to People, Angelina “tries to eat healthy, with lots of fruits and vegetables. She doesn’t believe in depriving herself. She actually eats all the time, but does everything in moderation.” She dropped her pregnancy weight by breast-feeding and eating a diet including light snacks, such as butter-free popcorn. And although Angie likely fits a size 0 or 2 herself, “She wants women to realize they are beautiful at any size.”

Workout – Chasing Her Children is her Workout, Plus the Occasional Pilates Class

Angelina Jolie has her daily workout built into her schedule by caring for her six children. She also has a very active lifestyle – traveling the globe and starring in blockbuster movies. Angelina often trains for her own stunts and takes the occasional Pilates class.

Her personal trainer, Gunnar Peterson, recommends making a workout part of your daily routine. He shared this butt and abs workout with Fitness magazine. Try it and let me know if you end up with a body like Angelina’s!

The exercise: Twisting lunge

1. A. Stand with feet parallel, arms at sides. Take a large step backward with left foot.
2. B. Turn so your upper body faces all the way to the left, and pivot both feet so your left foot faces forward and your right foot faces out (heel of left foot is perpendicular to right). Lower hands toward floor over left leg, being careful to keep left knee in line with left ankle. Pivot back to center and repeat on opposite leg. Do 12 to 15 reps; switch sides.

Connie Britton plays Tami Taylor, wife of Coach Taylor, on the critically acclaimed drama Friday Night Lights. Connie’s character is a feisty, but loving, mother, wife, and high school guidance counselor. Fans admire her chutzpah and many aspire to look as great as Connie Britton, especially when they reach 43 years of age.

Perhaps Connie’s natural glow, shimmering hair, and toned physique can be partially attributed to her years as an aerobics instructor. According to Shape, when Connie Britton first moved to Los Angeles she paid her bills by teaching fitness classes, instead of the more common work of aspiring actresses – waitressing. But now that Connie is a big hit in Hollywood, she has left the gym and turned to the yoga studio. She says, “I love that yoga gives me both a physical and a mental boost.”

Because Connie Britton loves yoga, she decided to create her own yoga-inspired dance class. She says, “Yoga makes me feel really centered and peaceful, but after years of practice, I wanted to change it up a bit. I mentioned this to a dancer friend of mine, Jen Jostyn, who came up with the idea of creating a yoga fusion workout that alternates traditional poses with fun choreography set to upbeat, inspiring music. We start with some basic yoga poses, like downwardfacing dog or warrior two. Next we do a 20-minute series of jazz dance moves, then some sun salutations; we end with balancing poses, like tree. It gets my heart rate going and always gives me something new to focus on, so the hour goes by quickly.”

Connie also hikes daily with her pup, Lucy. She says, “I adopted a stray pit bull–Lab mix named Lucy a few years ago. When I got her, I vowed I would take her on a two- to five-mile hike every day, no matter what. The two of us hit the hills near my home in Los Angeles or walk on the trails in Austin, Texas, where we shoot the show. Sometimes I want to sleep in, but I know I can’t let Lucy down.”

Although Connie Britton may appear effortlessly gorgeous, she admits the ticking clock makes it more difficult to stay in shape. She says, “I realized that what kept me slim when I was younger doesn’t work anymore. But instead of feeling hopeless, I decided I just have to try a little harder to stay in shape—whether that means readjusting my eating habits or upping my activity level. Finding creative ways to get fi t makes me feel great.”

Connie even told Redbook that she is happy to be aging in Hollywood. She says, “You know what? I almost feel lucky about it. I’m in an environment where I have a lot of information about how to stay healthy and live a good life. I love vegan and raw food, I love to exercise. If I weren’t in this business, I think I would be aging differently. I’m fortunate because, for whatever reason, I’ve never looked at myself as, Oh, my gosh, I have to be the most beautiful. I’ve always worked from the inside out, not the outside in.”

Plagued by injury for a good part of his time in the NBA, Phoenix Suns‘ forward Grant Hill credits his new diet for his recent resurgence.  Last year, at the age of 36, Hill played in all 82 games for the first time in his career.  He followed that up this season by starting in 81 of the Suns’ 82 games.

“When I was a rookie with the Pistons in ’94 I ate whatever I wanted.  Pregame, I’d stop at this street with five fast-food joints and go ‘Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.’  My second year, I hired a chef.  I thought home-cooked meals would improve my diet.  Instead, I ate a lot of steaks, pastas, and heavy cream sauces, and Kool-Aid.  It was always in the fridge,” says Hill.

Hill has now changed his diet to include more fish, fruits and vegetables.  He attributes his ability to keep up with the younger guys in the NBA to his healthy eating.

Here are some diet tips Grant Hill shared in the May 2010 edition of Men’s Fitness…

Don’t Be Drastic
“If you want to improve how you eat, make a few subtle changes to your diet first.  Don’t just go hardcore all at once or you’re likely to fall off the wagon.’

Drink Nothing But Water
“That means no soda, coffee, or juice.  You’ll find it hard to do, but most of us walk around dehydrated because we don’t drink the right stuff.”

Stay Away From Processed Foods
“It can be an almost impossible challenge, but its worth it.  For starters, try to eat foods without labels, then go organic when you can.”

Cheat on Occasion
“You’ve got to afford yourself a luxury from time to time.  Think of it as a reward for all your hard work.  I’ll have a cookie, but not every single night.  It’s like once a month.”

A Sample Day of Eating for Hill

Breakfast – Oatmeal waffles with flaxseed oil and agave nectar
Snack – Goji Berries and almonds
Lunch – Miso soup and fresh fruit
Pre-Game – Fish or Chicken and salad

Hill doesn’t mention what he eats for post-game recovery, but we are certain he maintains his healthy balanced eating approach after the game as well.  it is important to remember that your post-workout nutrition is vital to re-fueling and re-building your body.

Grant Hill and the Suns start the first round of the NBA playoffs this weekend against the Trailblazers.  For more information on basketball training tips check out our previous post on the North Carolina Tar Heels workout program and Lebron James’ workout.

We continue our review of the Top 25 Summer Bodies list named by Men’s and Women’s Health magazines earlier this season with the women in the 16-20 spots.  We’ve previously posted about the women ranked 21-25 and the men at the back end of the list.

20) Megan Fox
It’s hard to believe there could be 19 celebs with better summer bodies than Transformer’s superstar Megan Fox.  Megan uses an ab circuit workout to tighten and tone her stomach.  She’s also used an apple cider vinegar cleanse to help boost her metabolism.

19) Ashlee Simpson-Wentz
Ashlee wasted no time getting her summer body back by hitting the gym 3 to 4 times per week and working with here trainer for 30 to 40 minute sessions.  She says the key to staying fit is maintaining a consistent routine.

18) Courteney Cox
The Cougar Town star has been working with celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson for years.  Anderson has created 3,000 different dance and muscle-conditioning exercises, which she individually tailors for each client.  You can certainly see the benefits of the workouts as Courteney has maintained her figure well into her 40s.

17) Rihanna
Rihanna follows a strict diet but sometimes only eats a few times per day which isn’t exactly ideal.  She travels with a personal trainer and has worked with choreographer Jamie King on dance routines in the past.  Jamie is one of our Top 10 Fittest Celebrities You Don’t Know.

16) Cameron Diaz
Cameron told People Magazine that she eats dinner for breakfast, filling up on garlic chicken in the morning.  It’s definitely a good way to start the day with a lean source of protein.  Cameron works with trainer Teddy Bass to keep in peak condition throughout the year.

Be sure to check back for the rest of our look at the best bodies in Hollywood this summer. Leave a comment and let us know what your favorite workout or diet tip for keeping your body looking its best on the beach.

ABC’s hit drama Private Practice is back this Thursday, and sure to stir up some emotions. On the show, the always-glowing actress Kate Walsh plays pre-natal surgeon Addison Montgomery. Although Kate’s character on the show has her share of problems, the real-life Kate Walsh appears funny and down-to-earth. Check out what Kate has to say about her workout and diet!

Kate Walsh Enjoys Pilates, but Sometimes Skips a Workout

Kate Walsh recently shared some workout secrets with Women’s Health. When asked whether her “glow” was due to a recent sweat session, Kate responded, “Well…I was supposed to do Pilates this morning. I got as far as putting the sports bra on. Then I realized there was no way I was about to drive through traffic and go to the gym. Noooo. So I threw my bathrobe on over the bra and read the paper. Sometimes I hope that through osmosis I might get a workout — just by wearing the clothes.”

Kate’s personal trainer, Juliet Kaska, told VIVmag that Kate has a Pilates studio in her home. Kate combines core work with resistance training, and listens to soothing music to achieve the right energy.

Kate Walsh has tried Every Diet, but Settled on Eating Healthily

Kate also admitted to following a crazy diet (or two) in attempt to shed pounds. She says, “I’ve done every diet there is. When I quit smoking years ago, I did the cabbage soup diet. I went on Atkins because I was going to have foot surgery. I knew I wouldn’t be able to move or work out and I was afraid of becoming huge. I remember sitting by the pool with my legs elevated, eating a mixing bowl’s worth of whipped cream with Equal in it.”

Although Kate has tried many diets, she is not overly-concerned with her weight. She told Us Magazine, “I’ve never been skinny. I’ve never been a size zero.” “Even when I was born, I was probably bigger than the other babies. It’s really not a priority to me.” Eventually she gave up on the fad diet trend and settled on healthy, balanced eating. She says, ”I try to eat healthy foods, but then of course I really do love junk food, too. I still love my potato chips. I try to eat organic, but it’s really expensive and not everybody can do that.”

Burlesque, starring Christina Aguilera, hits theaters on November 24th, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. In honor of the pop-sensation (and with respect towards your waistline considering the impending damage of the holiday season), I bring you Christina Aguilera’s top-6 workout tips, straight from Glamour magazine!

1. Ladies, Don’t be Afraid of Heavy Weights! Tee Sorge, Christina’s trainer for over three years, says, “Christina does biceps curls with 15-pound dumbbells and chest presses with 20-pounders.” “She knows they’re not going to bulk her up. What they will do is help build lean muscle that kicks up your metabolism and make your body burn more calories each day–so you’ll lose weight faster.”

2. Toss in Some Cardio. “I throw in a minute or two of jumping rope, stair climbing or boxing after every few toning moves Christina does to keep her heart rate up and really maximize the number of calories she burns.”

3. It is All About Your Core! “Your core is your body’s center, its foundation. If you’re strong there, you’re going to be strong and healthy, period.” Tee has Christina Aguilera do 300 to 400 reps of various ab exercises per session. That makes for one hot momma!

4. Intervals Create a Lean Body. Tee increases the intensity of Christina’s cardio by alternating bursts of energy with more moderate exertion. “Christina slowly jogs for five minutes on flat ground, sprints for three to five minutes, and then does a slow uphill walk for the remainder of the workout. It’s amazingly effective at making your body really lean.”

5. Make Exercise Something You Can’t Live Without! “Christina worked out with me until she was eight months pregnant–and then started back up a few months after [her son] Max was born.” “That’s what helped her look so good during her pregnancy–and snap back so quickly.” Consistency is key to any fitness and health routine. But if you are pregnant, please consult a doctor!

Hopefully Christina’s big screen debut shows off her acting chops better than Britney Spear’s debut in Crossroads. Maybe Christina will even get an Oscar to accompany her Grammy!

The fascination with American Idol continued tonight on FOX as the show went to the Windy City to search for its next super star.   We recently posted 10 fitness tips from Idol’s most well known champion Carrie Underwood.  We continue our look at the workouts and diets of former American Idol champions today with a feature on the most recent winner, David Cook.

The benefits of being in shape…
Cook actually got fitter on his path to becoming the latest Idol champion.  “Vocally, Idol is about as grueling as it gets, because you’re singing every single day. I was forced into taking care of myself, and now I’m glad I did. Even if I was voted out week one, the benefits I gained from working out are tenfold,” Cook told Men’s Fitness.

Best shape of his life…
“I haven’t felt this good in a long time. I lost between 10 and 15 throughout the course of the show, and I probably dropped another five since,” says Cook.

How he did it…
Cook mixed light weight training with 10-15 minutes of cardio.  Recently he has stepped up the cardio-intensive workouts to include boxing.  During the Idol tour this summer he would do five pushups for every song leading up to his set.

He also incorporates some non-traditional exercise into his routine.  His trainer takes him out to run football routes a few times per week.  We really like this type of workout because the sprint work involved with running the routes burns a ton of calories and for many people is much more fun then logging a bunch of miles at a slower steady pace.

His diet…
“I eat a lot of salad, grilled chicken, and fish. A typical meal for me is salmon and asparagus. If I’m on the go, I’d try to do a burger with no bun. I really just eliminate what carbs that I can and eat more lean protein and vegetables. It’s all about substitutions, like changing white bread to whole-grain bread,”  says Cook.

How it has all paid off…
When I would hit the stage, the way I put my set together, I wanted it to be high-energy so I’d always be running around the stage. At the end of the tour, my T-shirts fit better, which is nice,” Cook says with a laugh.

The holiday season is in full force! Thanksgiving was last week, Hanukkah began last night, and Christmas and New Years are only a few weeks away. With this season of celebration, there also comes a few extra indulgences. Meals with family and friends are often accompanied by wine and dessert, and baked goods are often shared as gifts. Remember, it is okay to indulge in moderation – even the celebrities do it!

For a light and sweet treat this holiday season, try Eva Longoria’s recipe for Mexican Shortbread Cookies from InStyle! I think it is time to give Eva a break from all the negative tabloid coverage she has been getting lately :)

Ingredients:

• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2/3 cups butter-flavored shortening
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup, plus 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Directions:
1 Preheat oven to 325°F.

2 In a saucepan bring to a boil cinnamon sticks and 1½ cups water. Let cool. Discard cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate liquid until chilled.

3 In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

4 In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening, vanilla, ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup cinnamon “tea” until light and fluffy. Stir in flour mixture.

5 Roll dough into 1″ balls. Place 2″ apart on baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes or until slightly browned around edges.

6 In bowl combine 2 tbsp sugar and ground cinnamon. Dip cookies while still warm in sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Makes 3 dozen.

Check out my other holiday posts and keep looking for more to come! I can’t wait to share celebrities’ favorite holiday indulgences and how celebrities avoid eating 1000 extra calories in a holiday meal.

Alicia Keys’ Maple-Soy Glazed Salmon

Bethenny Frankel’s Tips for Holiday Eating

InStyle Magazine

House star Lisa Edelstein believes the key to looking great is about healthy lifestyle changes, not following a strict diet. Along with her daily Ashtanga yoga practice, Lisa follows a balanced vegetarian diet. Check out House every Monday on Fox!

Growing up in a Kosher home taught Lisa Edelstein about food restrictions at an early age. She says, “if you’re raised with a food restriction, it’s not that difficult to have another kind of food restriction.” She told Prevention, “I’ve been a vegetarian since I was a teenager–when I was a kid, they called me Rabbit–but I grew up in a family where we had meat everyday, and where green beans were gray. I didn’t try broccoli until I was 16.”

Lisa suggests approaching healthy eating as a lifestyle, not a diet. She told Parade, “To become a healthier eater, make tiny changes.” “If you’re really addicted to certain kinds of food, it’ll be very hard to stop permanently if you give them up all at once. If you eat a lot of starchy foods, introduce a vegetable once a week, then twice a week, and then three times a week. Slowly fill your diet with new flavors. By the time you’re ready to let go of whatever it is you want to let go of, you’ve got a full menu.”

Although Lisa Edelstein has created a healthy relationship with food, she recognizes it is not easy in our culture. She told Prevention, “I think in the developed world, we eat addictively, and it’s hard to find a healthy relationship with food,” “We have emotional attachments to food from childhood. And it’s a mistake when people go on diets — they’re waiting for it to end. You have to find a way to have a relationship.”

Lisa’s vegetarian diet is easy because she loves vegetables. Her favorites include broccoli, kale, carrots, Brussels sprouts, string beans, sugar snaps, hearts of romaine and avocados. She says, “I love to cook! One of my favorite things to make is lemongrass soup. It’s wonderful, like vegetarian chicken soup — really good when you don’t feel well.”

Earlier we started our review of the Top 25 Summer Bodies list as named by Men’s and Women’s Health magazines with a look at the women ranked 21-25.  Next up we have the men on the 21 to 25 spots. 25) LL Cool J Last time we checked in with the rapper/actor he was doing bicep curls while holding The View’s Elisabeth Hasselbeck.  LL is certainly one of the most popular rappers ever and he’s certainly in consideration for fittest celeb of all time.  His book, LL Cool J‘s Platinum Workout, has plenty of good tips and routines and is well worth the read. 24) Gavin Rossdale The former Bush lead singer and guitarist take his workout on the road with him.  He’s an avid tennis player and plays in most cities he visits.  Rossdale finds traditional workouts boring, saying, “That whole mouse-on-a-wheel thing, day in and day out, gets monotonous.” 23) David Beckham There’s some talk about Beckham being one of the fittest guys on the planet.  He’s without a doubt soccer’s biggest star and is in incredible shape.  His HIIT workout featured at Men’s Health is impressive and will be sure to get your heart rate up and your fat burning. 22) George Clooney Ok, we are calling Men’s Health out on this one.  There is some kind of rule that George Clooney must appear on every top 25 male list made.  Clooney has admitted to doing some gimmicky type workouts in the past like jazz-ercise, the ab-master, and the butt-blaster.  We might have to come up with our own list of guys and gals who were snubbed from the Men’s/Women’s Health Top 25. 21) Ryan Kwanten Kwanten definitely belongs on the list.  He was names to the Men’s Fitness 25 Fittest Guys in the World list and we put him on our Top 10 Fittest Celebrities You Don’t Know list.  Now that True Blood is back and gaining even more popularity we’re not sure he fits on our list anymore.  Check out our feature on his workout and diet.  He’s self proclaimed “old school” in his workout ways, but he’s tried just about everything including body weight exercises, boxing, soft-sand running, hiking, surfing, triathlons, biking, and swimming. Check back later for the rest of our review of the MH and WH Top 25 Summer Bodies lists.

The fan-favorite musical dramedy Glee airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox. The theme of this week’s episode was body image and self esteem. In honor of that important topic, we want to share Glee star Lea Michele’s top 6 health tips, which make her feel great in the image obsessed entertainment industry. Check out what Lea Michele’s “health counselor” Devon Butler told Women’s Health Magazine!

1. Lea Michele relies on yoga to relax. Devon says, “We do a lot of yoga during red-carpet season.” “Lea has so much attention on her, and this is so calming.” Lea enjoys hot yoga because the heated studio provides deeper stretching and improves her stress relief.

2. Devon varies Lea’s routine by incorporating short bursts of cardio into her workout. He says, “Just think of it like a roller coaster: It takes more energy to go up, up, up and then drop for a bit than to stay at the same level.” “It burns more sugars, which ends up leaning you out.” For example, Lea will walk at a speed of four miles per hour at a 10 incline for three or four minutes.

3. When Lea is short on time, she fits in a quick medicine ball workout. “She holds a six-pound ball to her chest, squats down, and as she stands up, she throws the ball to me. I’m standing 15 feet away, so it’s a long throw.” “She’ll do three sets of 20. It really gets her heart rate up.”

4. Lea Michele recently became a vegan and is well known for following the diet. It increases her energy and makes her feel great. For breakfast she often enjoys steel-cut oatmeal made with soy milk, for added protein. When she munches on a tofu scramble, she says, “I’ll add in salsa and a piece of avocado” for flavor. Lots of celebs have given up meat – check it out!

5. When Lea became a vegan and cleansed her body, she also cut back on coffee. She says, “I detoxed and it was difficult.” Now, Lea will have one cup of joe in the morning and yerba mate tea in the afternoon, if she needs an extra boost.

6. Finally, when she is hungry Lea Michele eats healthy snacks. She says, “I snack on fruit, carrots, celery, and hummus.” “I don’t really like nuts, so I get my protein from tofu and black beans.” For more healthy snack ideas, click here.

For more on Lea Michele’s eating habits, check out this Examiner article!

ABC’s hit comedy Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9/8c. Sofia Vergara plays Gloria, the outspoken and fearless wife of Jay and mother of Manny. Like her character, Sofia Vergara embraces life and loves her body. Check out the workout, diet, and life tips Sofia recently shared with Self magazine!

Sofia Vergara on Working Out

Sofia rocks a gorgeous, voluptuous body, but hates hitting the gym. Instead she dances her way to fitness. She says, “I hate to work out. I get in a bad mood when I have to do it! I’m not athletic. But I love dancing to Latin music, so I have a trainer who dances with me for an hour, three times a week. The truth is, you work out for health and you do look better. And I have a responsibility to the show. Nobody wants to see Gloria with a flat ass!”

Although Sofia Vergara recognizes the importance of a good workout, she won’t go under the knife to combat aging. She says, “I exercise because you need it to stay slim and stay put, especially as you get older. But some women overdo it: Their body looks 20, but their face looks horrible. You need a little fat in your face! So they fill their face with crap, and then they look like monsters. Who do you think you’re fooling? We know those aren’t your lips. I don’t want plastic surgery or fillers or Botox.”

Sofia Vergara on Diet

Like many modern stars, Sofia Vergara finds moderation and balance in her diet. She says, “I love Sophia Loren. She looks so great, and I don’t think there’s a picture of her on a treadmill or going to pilates! And there are pictures of her eating! I’m not saying eat whatever you want and be huge. I don’t eat red meat. I read once that Sophia Loren didn’t eat red meat. Since I was used to eating organic in Colombia, when I moved to Miami, the meat didn’t taste good to me, anyway, so I stopped eating it. I’ve been off it for 16 years. My problem is dessert. I don’t feel done eating until I have something sweet. On Mondays, my diet is good. Tuesdays, perfect. Wednesday night, um. By Thursday, it’s horrible.”

Sofia Vergara on Accepting her Body

Although Sofia feels great about her body today, her teen years were a struggle. She says, “When I was 13, I got these ridiculous boobs. I wanted surgery. I told my mom, ‘As soon as I’m older, please take these boobs away.’ She said, ‘Sofía, shut up. When you’re 18, it will be different.’ I was like, ‘Why would I want these huge tits? I’m a 34DD.’ It’s hard to dress. No matter what I wear, I look like a stripper. That said, I’m grateful I have them, and honestly, they’ve helped me a lot in my career. And I’ve always felt sexy.”

Sofia’s culture also helps her feel confident in her own skin. “In Colombia, you grow up feeling more comfortable and sexual in your body. You see that your mother, aunts and friends all think they’re fabulous! Latin families are hilarious. Every time we have a party, someone is slapping someone or throwing food, but the next day, everybody is together again. It’s ridiculous and great. When we need to blow off steam, we scream, and that’s it; we’re fine.”

Even Sofia Vergara isn’t immune to the pressures of aging in Hollywood. She says, “I don’t want to age any more! But when I see somebody aging normally and somebody fighting it like crazy, I always think the one who hasn’t done anything looks better than the other one. The sooner you learn that, the better off you are. But I do love beauty products. If you tell me putting cement around my eyes will make them look younger, I’ll do it! I bought my apartment in L.A. because it had an area where I could have a huge ‘product closet’!”

How do celebrities stay slim while on the go? By relying on healthy, quick and easy snacks they can carry with them.

Many women will agree that a busy schedule can be the downfall of a healthy diet. When out of the house all day – whether running errands, attending meetings, or working in the office – it is tough to keep your energy level high without sabotaging your diet plan. Try these healthy, celebrity-favorite snacks for that extra boost!

Entourage actress Emmanuella Chriqui says, “I go for fresh options like almonds, carrot sticks and fruit.” Almonds are a great idea because they are filling, provide protein and healthy fat. Also, almonds taste great at room temperature, so they can easily be carried in your purse. Just make sure to measure them because almonds are high in calories.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall star Kristen Bell says, “I recently bought a bin of apples, and I’ve been eating one a day.” Apples are perfect for fall, high in fiber and vitamin A, with less than 100 calories. Make a day of it and find a local farm for apple picking this weekend!

30 Rock actress Katrina Bowden says, “My go to snack is pretzels. I could eat them all day long!” Although pretzels aren’t loaded with nutrients, they are generally free of additives and low in sugar. Light popcorn is probably a healthier option – full of whole grains and plenty of fiber.

Dexter star Julie Benz says, “I eat a lot of vegetables with hummus. When I want something sweet, I love KIND bars.” KIND bars are all natural fruit and nut bars sold at Starbucks, so it is easy to grab one on-the-go.

Ray actress Kerry Washington says, “I’m a big believer in protein shakes. My trainer David Kirsch makes one I live by.” David Kirsch also trains actress Julianne Moore and super-model Heidi Klum, proving his diet plan is effective. For another great protein shake, check out celebrity trainer and Thintervention star Jackie Warner’s health shake.

Source: Us Weekly, Issue 796, May 17, 2010