7 Wacky Celebrity Diets and Weight-Loss Tricks

Hollywood stars make a habit of turning to drastic, and often unhealthy, weight-loss plans and tactics.

When it's your job to look good, there's no telling what you'll do to get there. U.S. News, which publishes annual Best Diets rankings, has rounded up some of the wackiest celebrity diets and weight-loss tricks of recent years. Warning: Most of these don't reflect widely accepted guidelines for weight loss or a healthy lifestyle, and some are downright dangerous, even if they do provide fast results. Here are seven:

Watercress Soup Diet. Elizabeth Hurley's secret to dropping 10 pounds in seven days: a diet of watercress soup. "I drink at least six cups a day when I am eager to lose a few pounds," she told London's Daily Mail in 2007. "It's fat-less, low-calorie, full of vitamins and iron, and delicious enough to serve at a dinner party." Watercress soup typically consists of onions, light chicken stock, three large bunches of watercress, and salt and pepper. Such a restrictive diet, however, could open the door to nutrient deficiencies, a weakened immune system, and rebound weight gain.

The Facial Analysis Diet. Kate Winslet shed pregnancy weight with the Facial Analysis Diet, created by celebrity nutritionist Elizabeth Gibaud. The premise is that differently shaped faces need different diets, and that facial imperfections, such as forehead wrinkles or large pores, can signal dietary needs. Red or puffy cheeks, for example, are considered signs of dairy intolerance. And people with shiny noses are advised to avoid mangoes, chocolate, yeast-related products, red wine, and white flour, while sticking to apples, cucumbers, potatoes, and oats. A facial analyst will first examine skin for markings, color, and texture, and then create a customized plan that begins with a two-day detox. Most versions of the diet are low in calories, but claims in the book aren't backed by scientific research.

The "Bleak Diet." In 2007, Mariah Carey told reporters that she'd dropped two dress sizes by following a "bleak diet" built around fish and soup prepared very blandly—no oil or butter, for example. On the plus side, the diet emphasizes lean protein, which is a healthy choice. But neglecting flavor makes for a monotonous diet that will likely prove difficult to stick to over the long term.

Vinegar shots. Megan Fox and Fergie have admitted to taking shots of vinegar—typically three times a day, before each meal—in the name of weight loss. Advocates claim that vinegar flushes out fats in the colon, helping the body digest food while curbing cravings. But vinegar isn't a weight-loss panacea, experts say: There's no evidence it does anything but leave behind an unpleasant taste.

Grapefruit oil. Carmen Electra reportedly carries a vial of grapefruit oil around with her, sniffing it whenever hunger strikes. However, no research suggests that grapefruit oil has appetite-suppressing properties.

The "Air Diet." Madonna has been linked to the "air diet"—dubbed by the French magazine Grazia as the "it" way to lose weight in 2010. The idea is to go through the motions of eating without ever taking a bite. Followers put food on their plates, cut it, dig their fork into it, and hold it up to their mouths to savor the scent—never tasting it. What can they consume? Soup made from water and salt. Madonna helped popularize the plan in a 2010 Dolce and Gabbana ad campaign in which she and other stars were pictured holding food to their mouths but not eating it. (It's unclear whether she has actually tried the diet.) Medical experts don't condone such a restrictive, low-calorie diet.

Master Cleanse. Beyonce famously used Master Cleanse to drop about 20 pounds for her role in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. For at least 10 days, those on the plan give up solid foods in favor of fluids. On the menu: not-quite lemonade, water, and laxatives. That means four cups of salt water each morning, a cup of herbal laxative tea at night, and six to 12 glasses throughout the day of a "lemonade" made from fresh lemon or lime juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water. Continuously cycling on and off the diet could lead to nutrient deficiencies, long-term weight gain, a weakened immune system, and heart and kidney problems.

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See How Much the "Perfect" Female Body Has Changed in 100 Years (It's Crazy!)

There's a reason magazine covers include lines like "5 Moves for Michelle Obama Arms" or "The Secret for a Booty Like Beyoncé." But if you’ve ever found yourself wishing for this actress’s waist or that singer’s legs, remember this: The media’s concept of the ideal woman’s body isn’t static. Whoever People magazine deems “most beautiful” this year is just a representation of what has bubbled up in the cauldron of pop culture. That silhouette of the “ideal woman” has been put through a series of fun house mirrors (fashion, movies, pop music, politics). It also changes year over year, so the physical qualities we embrace today are often at odds with those from previous generations.

To prove our point, we’re taking a closer look at body ideals over the last 100 years—which shows that, as they say on Project Runway, “In fashion, one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out.”

Meet the “it girl” of the era: the Gibson Girl. Illustrator Charles Gibson was to the early 1900s what trend-setting fashion photographers are today. His dream girl, broadcast on the pages ofLIFE magazine, Collier’s, and Harper’s, quickly became the Beyoncé of her era. Women raced to copy the signature look: A showstopping feminine body like a looping figure-8, thanks to a super-cinched corset. (Don’t try this at home!) Linda M. Scott writes in Fresh Lipstick: Redressing Fashion and Feminism, "The Gibson Girl was not dainty… she was dark, regal in bearing, [and] quite tall.”

But Gibson’s model and O.G.G. (original Gibson Girl) Camille Cliffordwas critical of the ideal. She sang in her vaudeville show, "Wear a blank expression/and a monumental curl/And walk with a bend in your back/Then they will call you a Gibson Girl.”

Say bye-bye to monumental curves, statuesque height, fussy updos, and all that jazz—and hello to the flapper. Unlike the frozen beauty of the decade before, the flapper is constantly in motion. The exaggerated curves of Gibson are gone and replaced with small bust and hips.

In fashion, the waistline moves several inches below the navel, making narrow hips a necessity. But don’t be fooled, the flapper doesn’t lack sex appeal; the focus has simply shifted downward to the legs, where a shorter knee-length hemline could expose the flash of a garter while doing a “shimmy.” Margaret Gorman, crowned as the first Miss America in 1921, was the era’s ideal. Her 5-foot-1, 108-pound frame was a full 180 from the Gibson era.

Following the stock market crash, spirits dip back down and so do hemlines. Dresses are now draped on the bias. Translation? A less boxy, more fitted silhouette. The natural waist (around the belly button) comes back and there’s a hint of shoulder too. And the flat-chested look so popular in the 1920s gives way to a small bustline, likely a direct result of the new bra-cup sizing invented in this era. The media embraces a slightly more curvaceous body, making this era a stepping-stone from the streamlined, petite look of the 1920s toward the curvier 1940s. Photoplay, the People magazine of its day, declares actress Dolores del Rio to have the “best figure in Hollywood.” The article applauds her “warmly curved” and “roundly turned” figure.

Atten-SHUN! There’s no farewell to arms… but there is a farewell to the softer look of the 30s. Thanks to World War II, military shoulders(broad, boxy, and aggressive) become the look du jour. Angularity is the order of the day. Bras take on a pointed look too, with names like "bullet" and "torpedo." All that translates into the look of the moment: a long-limbed, taller, and squarer silhouette. Don’t be fooled by Rosie the Riveter, the ideal body type still doesn’t include flexing biceps. But it does become taller, and more commanding, possibly echoing women’s expanding role in the workforce while men are on the battlefield.

Welcome to the era of the hourglass. In the 1950s, the ideal body type reaches Jessica Rabbit proportions. After the angularity of the war era, a soft voluptuousness was prized above all else. Ads of the time even advised “skinny” women to take weight-gain supplements like Wate-On to fill out their curves. Playboy magazine and Barbie were both created in this decade, echoing a tiny-waisted, large-chested ideal. Fashions also showcased this body type with the rounded shapes of sweetheart necklines and circle skirts.

The swinging 60s brings the pendulum back in the other direction. Thin is in. And Jessica-Rabbit proportions are out. The look is now fresh-faced, girlish, and androgynously trim. Models like Twiggy andJean Shrimpton (aka “The Shrimp”) represented a new ideal: doll-faced, super slender, and petite. The clothing supports this look: shrunken shift dresses remove the cinched waistline, and fashion demands of a smaller bust and slim hips. (Sound familiar? It’s the same dramatic swing we saw from Gibson girl to flapper.)

More and more women are going girdle-free and embracing a less constricting wardrobe. The trade-off? Now that slim, flat-stomached look must be achieved through diet. Right on cue: Enter Weight Watchers, founded in 1963.

Disco! Jumpsuits! Bellbottoms! This decade was a raging party. But the party girl of the day was still pressured to maintain a slim-hipped, flat-stomached body in order to rock these fashions at the discotheque. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and spandex are embraced, but they’re also far more revealing and less forgiving compared to fabrics of the past. The overall look remains lean, especially in the torso, but curves start to come back.

Like the 1930s, this decade is a step away from the petite look of the 1960s. And following the black pride and “black is beautiful” movements of the 1960s, Beverly Johnson becomes the first black woman to grace the cover of Vogue, while Darnella Thomas stars in a groundbreaking “Charlie” fragrance ad.

Amazonian supermodels reign supreme. These tall, leggy women come to represent the new feminine ideal. Women like Elle MacPherson, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista lead the stampede off the runway and into the heart of pop culture, dominating the media and music videos of this decade.

The 1980s also ushers in an era of fitness, thanks to a pioneeringJane Fonda. Aerobics and jogging take off, and for the first time, muscles are acceptable and desirable on women. It’s both empowering and discouraging—one more beauty standard to add to a lengthening list.

Honey, we shrunk the supermodel. Kate Moss ushers in the era of the waif. Naysayers also dub it “heroin chic” for the gaunt look associated with Seattle’s grunge music scene. At 5’7” Moss is undeniably petite for a model and thin, even by industry standards. It’s a firmly unathletic look and a reaction to the Amazonian, uber-fit woman of the 80s.

Slouchy jeans, oversized fraying sweaters, and even unisex fragrances (CK One, we’re calling you out) all support the petite and androgynous waif look. Hollywood also embraces the look. A-list 90s actress Winona Ryder is so petite, costar Ben Stiller exclaims, "She's like a little figurine for the coffee table!"

Supermodel Giselle Bundchen brings sexy back, according to Vogue. She’s credited with ending the era of “heroin chic.” Gone is the pale, gaunt, glass-eyed look of the 90s. Now we enter an era of visible abs and airbrushed tans. Bundchen is crowned “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” by Rolling Stone magazine and dominates the runway, print ads, Victoria Secret’s lingerie show, and the red carpet on Leonardo DiCaprio’s arm. Hollywood actresses follow her lead hiring a small army of personal trainers and layering on a couple coats of spray tan during awards season.

Two words: booty bonanza. That’s this decade’s contribution to the shifting landscape of women’s body image. Twenty years after Sir Mix-a-Lot sang “you can do side-bends or sit-ups, but please don’t lose that butt,” it seems the media is finally carrying the banner. (Now that The New York Times is reporting it, we can officially call it: “Bootylicious” bodies have gone mainstream.)

Nicki Minaj and J.Lo release their tributes to the almighty buttock:Anaconda and Booty, respectively. In Anaconda, Minaj holds a workout session while backup dancers wearing shorts that read "Bunz" do squats to the beat. Subtlety has left the building. But is it empowering? Or exhausting?

The Takeaway

Body ideals, like everything else in pop culture, are a trend. As Tina Fey wrote in Bossypants,“Now every girl is expected to have Caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama, and doll tits.” Rather than chase that preposterous laundry list of attributes, embrace what your momma gave you! And remember: The media’s idea of beauty is subjective and changes, but confidence is always in style.

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What Supplements do Olympic Weightlifters Use?

Weightlifting has been an Olympic sport since the first modern-day games in Athens in 1896, and ever since, it's been a battle to see who is the strongest, the fittest and, ultimately, a winning Olympian.
A study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital in Massachusetts suggests that human growth hormone (hGH) is a commonly used substance among American male weightlifters of all levels. Researchers found that as many as 12 percent of weightlifters surveyed admitted they use the anabolic steroid, with the median usage lasting for a 23-week period. And it's not only at the amateur level -- U.S. Olympic weightlifter Patrick Mendes was recently suspended for two years for using hGH. He is not alone.

But there's a difference between enhancing your performance with substances that may harm you or give you unfair advantage in your sport and taking supplements to make sure you're getting all the protein, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins and minerals you need in your daily diet. The World Anti-Doping Agency maintains a strict list of substances Olympians are prohibited from using, both in and out of competition -- the list currently includes anabolic agents, peptide hormones, beta-2 agonists, hormone antagonists and modulators, diuretics and other masking agents, stimulants (caffeine was prohibited until 2004), narcotics, cannabinoids, and glucocorticosteroids. Athletes are also prohibited from gene doping, enhancement of oxygen transfer (also known as blood doping), and chemical and physical manipulation. When Pat Mendes tested positive for hGH, for example, he was in violation of the International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Policies and the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing -- and was subsequently banned from participating in the 2012 London games.

But none of those are actually dietary supplements. An athlete's dietary requirements can far exceed what most of the rest of us need because they use more energy, but your intake needs are also based on your overall health, how your metabolism works and, in general, how your individual body works. Olympic athletes have the best odds of achieving their best performances when their nutritional needs are met and maintained.

Just like us non-Olympians, the types of supplements Olympic weightlifters use are going to be determined by their own bodies' needs. Olympic nutritionists emphasize the importance of a well-balanced diet full of energy-boosting and tissue-rebuilding foods, such as carbohydrates, protein, fats and fluids, but Olympic athletes may supplement their diets with vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron and zinc, as well as amino acids, among other compounds. Let's look at some of the most commonly used supplements, beginning with what amino acids are and why they're important for weightlifters.

Breaking Down the Benefits

Elite athletes use much more energy that the rest of us, but nutritionists and sports medicine professionals rarely recommend dietary supplements over a balanced diet unless an athlete has a deficiency. Still, many athletes and Olympians may choose to supplement their diet to help the body perform, recover and repair itself at peak performance.
Amino acids are what the body uses to build protein, and they also play a role in your body's metabolism and its ability to repair body tissues. There are three amino acids that the body can't produce itself, which have to come from food and supplements: These are called branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). One of the three, leucine, is believed to be responsible for synthesizing protein in the body -- essential for building muscle tissue -- hence why some elite athletes choose to take BCAA supplements.
Additionally, the amino acid L-Glutamine is popular among weightlifters and body builders, because it prevents muscle loss, promotes muscle growth and helps boost the muscle energy supply.
Your body also uses amino acids to produce a chemical called creatine, which it stores in its muscles. Creatine entered the public consciousness when athletes in the former USSR began to use it as a performance enhancer -- since 1992, it's been a go-to supplement for many athletes, because it may help improve overall performance as well as build strength and lean muscle mass during brief, intense training -- including weightlifting. Findings from a study that followed weightlifting performance while participants were using creatine supplements showed that weightlifters taking it had an average of 8 percent greater muscle strength and a 14 percent increase in lifting performance over those using a placebo [source: Rawson].
In addition to amino acid supplementation, weightlifters may find they benefit from glucosamine supplements. Glucosamine is an amino-monosaccharide, a compound of protein and carbohydrate that naturally occurs in your body and may help the body recover from injury by repairing and strengthening cartilage and reducing joint pain as well as joint swelling and stiffness.
There are also three essential minerals that keep Olympian bodies (and those of mere mortals) in tip-top shape.

Calcium, Iron and Zinc

Vitamins and minerals also help the body manage your energy levels, how well your immune system works and how efficiently your muscles contract. Olympic-level athletes, such as elite weightlifters, use more energy and place their bodies under more stress when they train than many of the rest of us, and there are three essential minerals that can help them manage that: calcium, iron and zinc. Let's look at calcium's benefits first.
Your body needs calcium to grow strong bones and to maintain that strength and health. It also plays an important role in heart health and blood clotting, as well as how well your nerves communicate. Calcium boosts bone density (which reduces the risk of bone fractures).
Iron is an essential mineral and one of the most common nutritional deficiencies among athletes. Iron (and the B-vitamins B12 and folate) is essential for making healthy red blood cells. It also plays an important role in how your body gets oxygen from your lungs to all its cells and in energy production.
Of those three essential minerals mentioned above, that leaves us with zinc. Zinc deficiency may lead to a weakened immune system, but what's special about zinc and elite athletes is that if their bodies don't have enough of the mineral, they can't maintain adequate levels of testosterone in the blood. Without the right level of testosterone, the body can't maintain adequate muscle mass and muscle strength.

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Rebecca Adlington on staying motivated

Double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington talks about her love of swimming and shares her tips on staying motivated.

Born
February 17 1989
Birthplace
Mansfield, Notts
Height
1.79m (5ft 10.5in)
Club
Nova Centurion
Olympic career
2008 Olympic Games:
Gold: 400m freestyle
Gold: 800m freestyle
Superstitions
Always wears a new race costume for each major competition

When did you get into swimming?
When I was younger, my parents took me and my older sisters to swimming lessons so that when we went on holiday, they could leave us in the pool without being scared. Swimming with my older sisters gave me extra motivation as I always wanted to keep up with them.

When did you decide you wanted to compete?
I joined a club when I was 8 or 9, but I didn’t start racing until I was 10 or 11. My first big competition was the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2003, when I was 14. After that, I thought I can really do this. After my GCSEs, I took a year off to focus on competitive swimming and I haven’t looked back.

What do you love about swimming?
There’s something uniquely fun about being in the water. There’s nothing like it. Everyone should experience it. I love being in the water, whether I’m competing or not.

How does swimming keep you healthy?
Swimming works every muscle group in your body, but it’s kind to your joints. The risk of injury is very low compared to other sports. So it’s healthy and safe. There’s no upper age limit for a swimmer. At my local pool at 7am, you’ll see the older guys swimming next to schoolchildren. It’s a wonderful contrast and shows that swimming is for everyone.

What’s your training routine?
I do about 10 sessions a week, at two-and-a-half hours each. All I do is sleep, train, drive and occasionally find time to eat. 

What’s your advice on staying motivated?
I train with a squad of 20 people and that really helps. We’re all friends and we push each other. My advice is to go swimming with a friend regularly. Having someone to swim with will encourage you to swim on days when you're lacking motivation. It’s also good to mix things up. Practise different strokes, use kickboards to work your legs, set yourself little targets such as increasing the number of lengths you can do or improving certain areas of your technique.

What are your tips on fitting swimming into your routine?
My advice would be to do regular short swims, for example 30 minutes, rather than the occasional longer session. If your swimming sessions are too long, it might feel daunting and you might not feel like going. Shorter regular sessions are less of a chore and are easier to fit into a busy schedule. It’ll soon become a habit, like walking the dog.

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25 Shocking Celebrity Weight Changes

Stars lose weight, gain it

Whether they’re slimming down to play a perfectionist ballerina or bulking up to a gladiator-esque stature, celebrities often need to change their shape drastically—and on short notice—to ace roles (or meet the expectations of a critical public).

The problem? This type of dieting can be bad for your health.

Crash diets can weaken your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to getting sick and may even hurt your heart.

Fast weight gain can be bad news too, particularly for the heart and joints.

Healthy or not, here’s a look at some of the most dramatic transformations.

Jennifer Hudson

The Grammy and Oscar winner’s dramatic weight loss was the makeover on everyone’s lips in 2010.

In August 2009, Hudson had to lose her baby weight before shooting her next movie, Winnie, in which she plays Nelson Mandela’s wife (due out this year). She worked out regularly with celeb trainer Harley Pasternak and cut back on calories with help from the Weight Watchers program.

Now the face of Weight Watchers, Hudson, 29, is a slender size 6, down from a 16.

Christian Bale

This Batman famously lost a startling 63 pounds to play a chronic insomniac in the film The Machinist.

Bale, now 37, reportedly took supplements to make sure he still got his vitamins but hardly ate and over exercised to trim himself to only 122 pounds (he’s 6 feet tall!).

He slimmed down again more recently from his normal 185 pounds to play a former professional boxer in The Fighter.

Oprah Winfrey

When it comes to weight-loss tabloid fodder, Oprah, 57, reigns supreme. Her weight has fluctuated often and drastically, and it’s always been "breaking news." The yo-yoing is partly due to a thyroid condition, which she said she had leaned on as an excuse to eat whatever she wanted in the past.

In the early 2000s, she trimmed down to a fit 160 and thought she had finally conquered her weight issues. But in 2008, she opened up that she had hit 200 pounds—again. In 2010, she announced on her show that she would never diet again.

Drew Carey

For funny guy Drew Carey, 52, the extra pounds were becoming a serious health issue.

After losing 80 since January 2010, Carey told People magazine he no longer needs medication for his type 2 diabetes.

To slim down, he stuck to a diet high in protein, fruits, and veggies, and a tough regimen of 45 minutes of cardio six times a week.

John Goodman

The actor, perhaps best known for his beefy Dan Conner on Roseanne, tipped the scales at 368 pounds in 2007.

Since then, Goodman, 58, has quit drinking, cut sugar out of his diet—and gotten off the couch. Now he works out six days a week and is down more than 100 pounds!

50 Cent

The rapper's shocking weight loss wasn’t because of any health concerns; it was because of his role as a cancer patient in the upcoming film Things Fall Apart.

In May 2010, 50 Cent, 35, revealed emaciated-looking photos of himself. He had dropped from 214 pounds to a slight 160 in just nine weeks.

With shooting wrapped, he was back to looking like himself by September 2010.

Kevin Federline

Once a toned dancer, the former Mr. Britney Spears ballooned to 240 pounds around the time of his 30th birthday.

Never one to pass up a chance in the spotlight, K-Fed, 32, appeared on VH1’s reality show Celebrity Fit Club in 2010 to try to slim down, but he has continued to struggle with his weight.

Kelly Osbourne

After a stint on Dancing with the Stars, Ozzy's daughter quit her emotional eating and dropped 50 pounds.

All the dance workouts and weight training paid off for the 26-year-old; she bared her new size 2 body on the December 2010 cover of Shape magazine.

Jared Leto

The actor gained 60 pounds to play the role of John Lennon’s killer in the film Chapter 27. The sudden and dramatic gain left him with severe gout-like foot pain.

Leto, 38, told the New York Daily News that he “gorged and force-fed” himself to put on the pounds. He said it took over a year to feel like he was back to normal and won’t be gaining weight for a role again.

Charlize Theron

The actress gained 30 pounds eating doughnuts, and was almost unrecognizable as a prostitute and serial killer in 2003’s Monster.

She returned to her normal weight even before the film’s premiere. Theron, 35, who has said she is usually around a size 8 and likes her curves, went on to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress for the role.

Star Jones Reynolds

The former co-host of The View at first wouldn’t fess up to having gastric bypass surgery. But having dropped around 160 pounds in just three years, Reynolds, 48, came clean in 2007 that she had done something drastic to lose the weight.

Bariatric surgery isn’t a quick fix, though. Continuing to eat an unhealthy diet after the procedure can cause patients to gain weight right back. However, surgery can be a viable option for the extremely obese.

Michael Moore

The opinionated filmmaker dropped a dramatic 70 pounds by eliminating salt, sugar, and white flour from his diet, and upping his exercise regimen to walking 30 to 40 minutes every day.

Moore, 56, allegedly checked into a Florida weight-loss spa in 2007 and again in December 2010.

Janet Jackson

A notorious yo-yo dieter, Janet Jackson and her weight have been a near constant topic in the media.

She showed off her incredible body and admitted eating only an apple and a small bag of tortilla chips a day while preparing for her Love Will Never Do music video shoot. Today, Jackson, 44, sticks to a much healthier pescatarian diet and works out regularly with a trainer.

Perez Hilton

The self-proclaimed "Queen of All Media" celebrity blogger slimmed down by eating healthier and gradually adding gym workouts, dropping over 60 pounds in three years.

What started as simple 30-minute daily walks became 7-days-a-week training sessions, and, eventually, Hilton, 32, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira Jr., opted for delivery meals. In October 2010, he even launched a new site, called FitPerez.com, focused on fitness and the healthy habits of his favorite A-listers.

Nicole Richie

In 2006, the 5'2" socialite weighed only about 90 pounds—dangerously thin even by Hollywood standards—and sought treatment for her weight issues. Many speculated she was suffering from an eating disorder, although she never spoke openly about it.

Richie, 29, who has two children and was recently married, has remained slim, but appears to be at a healthier weight than at her thinnest.

Seth Rogen

Since first gracing the silver screen, funny guy Seth Rogen has slimmed down significantly by working out with trainer to the stars Harley Pasternak.

The 28-year-old ditched around 30 pounds in nine months.

Renee Zellweger

To play the classic, awkward thirtysomething role of Bridget Jones, actress Renee Zellweger, now 41, gained 20 pounds and went from a size 4 to a size 14.

Perhaps more shocking was her post-Bridget Jones slim down. She dieted to lose the weight she had put on, and continued to lose even after returning to her healthy size 4. Constant weight fluctuations, like Zellweger's, can make it harder for dieters to lose pounds and keep them off in the long run.

Valerie Bertinelli

In 2007, after reaching 172 pounds, the actress became a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig and lost 50 pounds.

Our former cover girl, 50, now stays around 128 pounds by watching her portion sizes and getting active—she even ran the 2010 Boston Marathon!

Mo’Nique

Although the comedian and actress was always vocal about loving her body the way it was, she made the decision to get healthy after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and topping out at 262 pounds.

Mo’Nique, 43, lost around 45 pounds in 2009 by eating healthier. She nixed junk food, red meat, and fried foods, and went from a size 20 to a 14.

Ron Lester

Best known for playing Billy Bob in 1999’s Varsity Blues, Lester, now 40, was over 500 pounds at his heaviest. By December of 2000 he had had enough of playing obese characters and not being able to move comfortably on the set. He turned to gastric bypass surgery (which was still experimental at the time) and needed 17 follow-up procedures to remove excess skin. He slimmed down to a healthy 193 pounds.

Al Roker

The Today show’s weather anchor also turned to surgery to get trim. Roker, 56, weighed over 340 pounds in 2002 and was wearing a size 60 suit.

His weight had fluctuated throughout his life, but he had always gained the 30- or 40-pound losses back. In 2002, he underwent gastric bypass surgery at his wife's suggestion and dropped 140 pounds. He says that he has finally accepted that maintaining a healthy weight will be a lifelong battle even after surgery. Today, he watches his portion sizes and exercises regularly to stay around 200 pounds.

Kirstie Alley

One of the most notorious yo-yo dieters, actress Kirstie Alley, 60, was once the face of Jenny Craig. She lost 75 pounds with the diet plan’s help, but gained much of it back after her contract ended.

She starred in her own show about her struggle with her weight in the mid-2000s, when her weight had ballooned to over 200. In 2008, she pledged to lose 80 pounds, and tweeted in September 2010 that she had just 30 more to go.

Ricki Lake

Weight played a key role in the actress’s big break in 1988’s Hairspray, where she portrayed chubby Tracy Turnblad.

But Lake, now 42, struggled throughout the next 20 years, losing an extreme 100 pounds in 1992 by "starving" herself, she said. However, after limiting calories more responsibly and joining a fresh-food delivery service, she shed 140 pounds and maintains a healthy size 6.

Randy Jackson

In 2002, the American Idol judge weighed over 300 pounds. The music legend, 54, struggled to keep his diabetes under control and opted for gastric bypass surgery in 2003.

He lost 100 pounds and has kept it off by eating fewer processed foods, cutting back on fat and sugar, and spending more time walking on his treadmill and playing tennis.

Sara Rue

The 32-year-old actress dropped 50 pounds after joining Jenny Craig and taking up running.

Since becoming a Jenny Craig spokesperson, Rue has carefully maintained her size 6 frame. "I’m done losing weight," she told People magazine.

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101 celebrity life secrets: Health for happiness

62 Deep cleanse
Actress Megan Fox drinks a mixture of water and raw apple cider vinegar.
“It cleans out your system entirely,” Megan says. “For women who retain water from your menstrual cycle, it ­gets rid of it really fast.”

63Go green
“Drink green tea. Do it instead of snacking!” shapely Gwyneth Paltrow advises. Gwynnie kicks off every day with a cup.

64Don’t burn the candle
“When I’m working hard, ­I don’t party. I just go to bed,” Helen Mirren admits. “I try to sleep as much as possible. It gets even more important as you get older.”

65Get your moles checked
Melanoma runs in Desperate Housewives’ star Marcia Cross’s family. “I understand the importance of skin cancer detection and protection,” she says.
“I take extra care to protect myself with a large hat, sunglasses, daily UV protection and annual screening.”

66Check your breasts monthly
“Even if you’re in your 20s and eat right and exercise, you’re still at risk of breast cancer,” says ­Kelly Clarkson.

67Have regular smears
TV presenter Christine Bleakley once received an abnormal smear result but further tests came back negative.
“I go for regular smear tests,” she says. “I’m a ‘bury my head in the sand’ girl but I’m now better about dealing with health issues.”

68Keep hydrated
Jennifer Aniston’s number one health tip is: “Water, water, water! I drink three litres each day.”

69Grow your own
Nicole Kidman grows organic food in her garden. “We just planted our vegetables for the summer and all we have at the moment is lettuce,” she says.
“I’m hoping the sweetcorn will be beautiful because I love eating corn out of the garden.”

70Quit smoking
Knocked Up star Katherine Heigl recently ditched the habit to set ­an example for her daughter Naleigh. “Now I use an electronic cigarette. It’s ridiculous, but it’s helping me not to smoke real ones,” Heigl admits. “Smoking sucks!”

71Get to know your family history
Lupus – an autoimmune disease – runs in Lady Gaga’s family, so the singer sensibly got herself tested. “I was borderline positive,” says Gaga. “Lupus is in my family so I have to take care of myself.”

72 A problem shared
Mental health problems are nothing to be ashamed of and it can help to talk. Megan Fox has spoken out about suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, and can’t deal with dirt. “This is a sickness – I have an illness,” she says.

73Create some me-time
“We’re so busy taking care of partners and kids that it can all get on top of us,” says TV presenter Lorraine Kelly. “It’s important to take care of you.”

74Smile, smile, smile
Elle Macpherson says: “I want to be around for a long time. This means getting lots of sleep, eating properly and laughing a lot.”

75Be pale and proud
“I’ve realised it’s not just a tan, it’s life or death,” says Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts. “It’s that serious.”

76Know when to ask for help
Christina Ricci admits she’s suffered from depression and an eating disorder, but therapy has helped get both under control. “Sometimes people need to seek help,” says Christina. “I’ve discovered you can choose happiness.”

77 Munch on multivitamins
Kelly Osbourne uses supplements to ensure she's getting the nutrients she needs. She was snapped with a Wellness Pack, which contains a 30-day supply of vitamins.

78 Make every day a D-day
Rachel Stevens regularly takes vitamin D supplements because: "We simply don't get enough sunshine in this country!"Vitamin D forms under the skin in reaction to sunlight and helps to keep bones and teeth nice and healthy.

79 B-clever
"I can't live without my vitamin B," says Penelope Cruz, who takes vitamin B supplements to control sweet cravings and improve her mood.

80 Count to three
Model and radio DJ Lisa Snowdon takes an omega-3 supplement, which is good for the heart and is also thought to help mop up free radicals that can cause wrinkles.

81 Prenatal power
What's the key to Gwyneth Paltrow's luscious locks? "It's vitamins," Gwyneth says. "Take New Chapter Organics Perfect Prenatal." £23.39, from health stores
Staying young and beautiful
If anyone's qualified to offer words of wisdom on looking gorgeous and fighting wrinkles it's these stars...

82 Don't overdo it
"Choose to wear make-up on your eyes or lips - not both," says Cat Deeley.

83 Keep it all natural
"One thing I've learned is less is more with make-up," says Beyonce.

84 Don't neglect eyebrows
"It's an inexpensive trick but always pluck and shape your eyebrows. They really frame your face," says Alesha Dixon.

85 Raid the kitchen cupboard
Julia Roberts says she soaks her nails in olive oil to keep them healthy while moisturising the skin on her fingers at the same time.

86 Always carry blotting papers
"I blot one last time before I get out of the car," says model Heidi Klum. "Otherwise there's no way I'd be looking good an hour later."

87 Mix up your own base
"When it comes to make-up, blend and mix colours to find a favourite," Ugly Betty's Vanessa Williams says.

88 Try a miracle product
Celebrities such as Cheryl Cole, actress Penelope Cruz and OC star Rachel Bilson all swear by miracle-worker Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, £25 from Boots.

89 Use base on your lips
"Dab a little foundation over your lips to tone down the redness," advises Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere.

90 The perfect red pout
"To make my red lips last I apply a matt dry base and something creamy and moist on top," says singer Gwen Stefani.

91 Cheat a natural glow
"To make my lips look naturally pink, I put on red lipstick then wipe it off and apply clear gloss," Halle Berry recommends.

92 Get lippy with liner
"If you plan to be out all night, bring a lip pencil with you to reshape and colour in your lips, then throw a gloss on top," advises Scarlett Johansson.

93 Pamper pouts
Scarlett Johansson also carries a tin of Vaseline Lip Therapy (£1.32 from Boots) to keep lips smooth.

94 Lash out
"Take a hairdryer to your eyelash curler before using them to make them curl better," says Isla Fisher.

95 Create the perfect cat eye
"Have a steady hand when using eyeliner," Christina Aguilera says.

96 Set your make-up
"After adding foundation and blush, dust with powder, mist with rose water spray, then lay a Kleenex over your face for a few seconds," says Liv Tyler.
Skin wisdom
Every star has a secret "miracle worker" - why not steal one of these...

97 Scrub for less
"I don't spend money on fancy exfoliators," says model and presenter Kelly Brook. "Instead, I use cheap exfoliating gloves and scrub along with some normal shower gel. I don't do anything more than that."

98 Zap out pesky zits
Cheryl Cole swears that Sudocrem (£2.80 from Boots) - a product which is designed to heal nappy rash - is the best thing for drying up and drawing out spots. "It really works!" she says, which explains why she always looks so flawless.

99 Soothe puffy skin
"It sounds old-fashioned," says Kate Hudson. "But my mum, Goldie Hawn, told me this one years ago and it really works. "Take a bowl, fill it up with ice and then wash your face with it. You'll find that poof - the puff is soon gone."

100 Try out a cult classic cream
Kylie Minogue has revealed the secret to her youthful looks - Pond's Cold Cream. Try Pond's Triple Action Moisturiser from Boots, £4.07. "It really has changed my skin," she gushes. "My mum swears by it."

101 Have a bedtime routine
"Make sure you always remove your make-up before going to bed and try using witch hazel as a toner," advises actress Keira Knightley.

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10 Celebrity Health Secrets for 10 Days

1. DRINK MORE WATER


Eva Longoria's trainer, Patrick Murphy, tells that the actress guzzles "at least three liters per day" to maintain muscle tone and rid her body of toxins. So how much should you drink? "Half your body weight in ounces each day," recommends nutritionist Sophie Pachella, who founded the nutrition and fitness company EatStrong. "So if you weigh 120 lbs., drink 60 ounces or about 8 cups." Find water too boring? Add slices of lemon, orange, strawberry or cucumber to make it more flavorful.



2. EAT MINI MEALS


Eating small meals throughout the day boosts metabolism and prevents binge eating. "Every time you eat, your body burns calories," says Pachella. "So eating every two hours or so keeps your body working – and burning." Katherine Heigl's just one of the stars who has signed up for trainer Harley Pasternak's daily 5-Factor Diet, which includes five high-protein meals along with an exercise plan. "Now I wake up and I go, 'My God, I can't believe this is my body!' " Heigl tells.



3. BAN BOOZE

Kelly Osbourne said goodbye to alcohol and, as a result, pounds. "I stopped doing drugs and drinking," the actress says. "The weight literally dropped off." The reason? "Drinking alcohol is like eating sugar with a spoon," says Pachella. If you can't completely ban booze, indulge in one glass of red wine or a lower-calorie cocktail such as rum-and-Diet Coke.


4. GO VEGGIE


Vegetables fill you up, contain fiber and antioxidants, and are low in calories. "Brighter colors are better," says Pachella, who recommends red cabbage, red peppers, squash, pumpkin, dark leafy greens and tomatoes. Veggies were the key to weight loss for Alicia Silverstone, who gave up her diet of "steak and doughnuts" in 1998 and became a vegetarian.



5. GO FISH

According to an interview Jennifer Lopez gave Cosmopolitan magazine, the singer and actress works hard to stay in shape when she’s promoting herself, but in her off time she’s bound to be eating lots of junk food. She says there are times when she eats McDonald’s and doesn’t work out, but if she starts to gain weight she works out with a personal trainer and eats more fish and vegetables. Pachella advises eating salmon, sardines or mackerel – but if you're not into fish, try tilapia, which has a mild flavor, or take Omega-3 fish oil supplements.



6. DRINK GREEN TEA


"If you're drinking green tea, you're nailing three healthy habits at once: you're not snacking, you're getting antioxidants and you're adding water to your diet," Pachella says. Green tea also slightly raises the metabolism. Celebrity devotees include Gwyneth Paltrow and Courtney Love, who dropped more than 50 lbs. in 2007. Green isn't your cup of tea? Try white, which "is equally as good if not better," Pachella says.



7. SNACK SUGAR-FREE

Satisfy your sweet tooth with sugar-free snacks. Kirstie Alley says that low-calorie Jell-O with Cool Whip Free is "the greatest invention," and Heroes star Greg Grunberg swears by sugar-free popsicles. "If you're looking to lose weight, sugar-free snacks can make a difference," says Pachella. "It's a way to indulge in 'mindless munching' minus the damage." But, be warned, too many sugar-free treats can lead to excessive gas, bloating or cramps.



8. ADD VINEGAR

Fergie maintains those killer abs with tons of stomach crunches – and raw apple cider vinegar. The Grammy nominee tells that twice a day, after lunch and after dinner, she swallows 2 tablespoons of the bitter liquid. "Vinegar appears to slow down the rate of foods emptying from the stomach," Pachella explains, "but it certainly doesn't taste good by itself. Instead, I recommend a salad with olive oil, vinegar, herbs and spices with your meal."



9. TRY BUDOKON


Work your body and mind with Budokon, a blend of yoga, martial arts and meditation created by Cameron Shayne, who trains Courteney Cox Arquette and Jennifer Aniston. "Yoga and martial arts are simply an external expression of one's internal being," Shayne has said. "Therefore, by better organizing the way a person moves, we serve to better organize the way that person thinks and lives." There are Budokon studios across the country – or you can pick up Shayne's DVD series and try it at home.



10. REFESH AT THE SPA


Sometimes a bubble bath and a do-it-yourself facial just won't cut it. A trip to the spa – where you can free your mind and pamper your body – is in order. "Bring on the spas," Alicia Keys says. "I love a day when you're with your friends getting your toes and your nails done. Anything that has to do with rejuvenation of mind, body and spirit, I'm all for it: a spa or a great massage."

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