'Real Housewives' Star Reveals Weight Loss Secret That REALLY Works

maandag 23 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Emily Abbate 2 hours ago

Whether you're excited or less-than-stoked for the reported Real Housewives of New Jersey spin-off featuring Caroline Manzo and her family, there is no arguing that the Manzos are an interesting bunch. You have Albie who is arguably the most handsome son to emerge out of the Housewives franchise and then the whole situation with them owning the Brownstone. But my favorite player of the Manzo clan? Lauren Manzo.

Struggling with her weight on national television can't be an easy thing. Lauren's been battling to drop pounds ever since she underwent lap band surgery in September 2011 and recently posted a photo of her diet efforts on Twitter (right). Looks like Lauren Manzo's weight loss efforts have been kicked into HIGH gear.

Let's get real: We could look at a zillion bikini body photos, but something like this is much more impressive. I like to see celebs work hard to get a great bod. This intense portion control, this is something that you and I normal folk can appreciate.

... and it works, too. Back when I was really trying to shed pounds, I always found putting things into small Tupperware and planning for the day to be tedious (because it is). The truth, though, is that although planning takes effort, that effort pays off. Look at all of the awesome options that Lauren has laid out up there. You can see just by looking at her array of treats that she's prepared, and she most definitely won't go hungry.

Just think about what could happen if she didn't prepare. Instead of having ALL of those things to nosh on over the course of a full day, lady could have opted for a horribly "healthy" salad that's actually 1,200 calories alone at a nearby bodega. I don't know about you all, but I'd rather munch the whole day through for 1,200 calories than eat it all within 12 minutes.

Kudos to Lauren on putting the work in. Now, excuse me while I go satisfy my raspberry craving. Thanks, Laur.

Are you good at planning ahead when you're on a diet, or do you find it to be tedious?

Image via Laurenmanzo/Twitter

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The Secret of Turmeric Tea Will Make You Guzzle It by the Gallon

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AppId is over the quota
by Adriana Velez 2 hours ago

Is it just me, or is everyone else's Facebook feed dominated with posts about drinking tumeric tea? I'm not kidding, my friends are REALLY into the stuff. The way people talk about it, you'd think turmeric had superpowers that help you fly and poo rainbows. That's a lot to ask of a spice -- but turmeric has a big personality. It's hella yellow, as those of you who've cooked with it can tell you. But what else? I looked into the secrets of tumeric, and now I can tell you what all the fuss is about.

Tumeric the spice comes from a root known as Curcuma aromatica, Curcuma domestica, Curcumae longa, or Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (not to be confused with Javanese turmeric root). Its main ingredient, curcuma, is what powers its health benefits. You can use the dried powder, but it's most potent fresh, grated right from the root if you can find it. (Just like with ginger -- look for it at health food stores.) And it's fat soluble, so you'll absorb more of its nutrient properties if you have it with a little bit of "good" fat, like coconut oil.

Fans say turmeric can serve as an antioxidant that helps block the growth of cancers in the neck and head. It can help alleviate joint pain and arthritis and is anti-inflammatory. It can also help with tummy troubles, everything from heartburn to stomach pain. Some say it helps with headaches, depression, and lung infections. WebMD points out that there's evidence for the claims to turmeric aiding stomach problems and joint pain. As for the rest of the benefits, more research is needed to verify those. On the other hand, there aren't really any side effects (unless you're taking the stuff in huge doses), so it doesn't hurt to experiment in moderation.

Tea: So about that tea I've heard so much about ... Dr. Weil's spiel on tumeric tea keeps it really simple. But if you want a recipe with fat, try Dr. Sanjay Gupta's calming, creamy turmeric tea recipe made with almond milk, cinnamon, honey, and ginger. I've seen more or less the same recipe only with coconut milk instead of almond, and that sounds heavenly.

Curry: This is another easy way to get your turmeric. Just google "turmeric curry recipe" and you'll get tons. But if you're looking for an easy place to start, try this curried potatoes with cauliflower and peas recipe.

Pasta: This sesame yogurt pasta salad from 101 Cookbooks looks tasty.

Chicken: Here's a chicken and broccoli stir-fry recipe using turmeric. And this tandoori chicken recipe looks delicious.

Just grate: Try grating fresh turmeric over anything -- salads, soups, yogurt, anything else you can think of.

Have you ever tried turmeric tea?

Image via Steven Jackson/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.  

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Christina Aguilera Shares the Secret to Good Sex

vrijdag 20 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Michele Zipp 12 hours ago

For some women, experiencing an orgasm during sex is about as common as seeing a unicorn. Apparently Christina Aguilera knows the secret on how to see unicorns and rainbows with pots of gold. 

When on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night, the 32-year-old mom of 5-year-old Max shared quite a bit about her sexuality and her ability to enjoy sex -- really, really enjoy it. She admits she's very in control when involving most things in her life, but when it comes to getting it on she's very different.

She was quoted in Maxim magazine saying "the one place I do not need to be in control is the bedroom" and on Leno she added:

I'm a big micromanager. I'm a stickler about organization: Everything needs a place, a purpose. ... I think every woman should relax and allow herself to be pleased in the bedroom. It's the one place I can let go.

The audience burst into applause and I think we should do the same.

Letting go -- that's exactly what many women need to do to experience an orgasm. Relax. Forget the dishes in the sick. Forget the bills that need to be paid. Forget that you have to wake up in 5 hours. Let all of that go. And feel. Breathe. Relax. Truly experience the pleasure.

Christina feels more confident and sexy as she gets older. She knows what she wants from a man and isn't afraid to ask for it. And she's learned how to truly experience pleasure. Hopefully more of us can do the same.

What do you think of Christina's "sex secret" about how letting go helps you experience pleasure?

Image via Splash

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

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Sara Gilbert's 'Secret' Makes Us Love Johnny Galecki Even More (VIDEO)

zaterdag 14 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jeanne Sager 9 hours ago

Ready for a secret? Actress Sara Gilbert hopes so. The Talk co-host was spilling them this week in a special week of letting the cat out of the bag, and her's has as much to do with her one-time Roseanne star Johnny Galecki as it does herself.

It turns out Gilbert, who quietly came out of the closet three years ago, has known she was gay for a long time. Heck, she says she knew way back in her child star days, when she was working with and dating Galecki. And she was dating an older woman part of the time!

So how does the Big Bang Theory actor feel about his ex-girlfriend sharing that she was not really into him?

According to Gilbert herself, Galecki knew! And he kept her secret for her! Aww! That is true friendship.

Explaining what it was like telling her boyfriend why she would get depressed after a make-out session, Gilbert said:

He was super sweet about it ... No one knew at the show, and Johnny held the secret the whole time. I was always so scared if it came out.

It's hard enough for someone to come out of the closet to friends and family, but an actress has to do it to the whole country -- and people aren't always as accepting as they should be. Keeping that secret for her meant protecting Sara emotionally and probably even protecting her career.

Good for him! And good for Sara for finding the strength to be herself.

Cbs - The Talk Video - Sara Gilbert's Emotional Revelation - CBS.com

Are you a Galecki fan? Did this just boost him in your eyes?

Image via CBS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeanne Sager

writes articles for The Stir by day, slays closet monsters and bounds through bedtime stories with her elementary schooler by night. The Phineas and Ferb soundtrack reverberates through her brain.

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Mama June Reveals Beauty Secret That May Disgust Even Her Most Loyal Fans

woensdag 11 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Lisa Fogarty 12 hours ago

On tonight's one-hour season finale of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, we'll get to witness Mama June and Sugar Bear finally say "I do" in a commitment ceremony that is months in the making. Judging by the sneak peek trailers, shiny pink lip gloss will be worn, Honey Boo Boo will look absolutely adorable in a totally age-appropriate fuchsia flower girl dress, and Mama June will demonstrate for us all how she shaves her neck in preparation for her nuptials.

Come again?!

In this clip, daughter Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon is shown helping mom prep for the ceremony (in which she dons a camouflage dress) and says quite nonchalantly, "Mama still hasn't shaved her neck hairs for the commitment ceremony. And I think I'm gonna help her with that so we can check it off the list." 

Pumpkin then proceeds to gently glide a razor along mom's neck as if she's familiar with the procedure. No biggie. 

Part of me wants to shout across the screen at Mama June to put down that razor, which is only going to create stubble and ingrown hairs, and get herself to decent electrolysis spa -- many of which exist in Georgia -- pronto. I understand the family may not have a ton of money, and I respect Mama's couponing and budgeting efforts, but $20 for 15 minutes is well worth the money, right?

But then another part of me totally respects Mama June for showing us who she really is and sharing a secret about women's facial hair with millions of viewers that most of us would never -- not in our most vivid nightmares -- ever whisper to a soul. 

So there you go. For better or worse, Mama June has made a female secret quite public. Many will argue that women's beauty secrets are best kept hidden so as to preserve a little feminine mystery. 

What do you think about Mama June's unapologetic public shave? Does it serve as a great inspiration for women who deal with facial hair, or would you prefer it be kept private? 

Image via TLC

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa Fogarty

Lisa Fogarty is a former old-timey print journalist who lives in Brooklyn with her husband and toddler girl. She still carries a notebook everywhere and is always on the lookout for tasty vegan food and blouses with collars that will finally put the Peter Pan out on its (adorable) tush.

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