The Amazing Diet Plate

A British made tool named the diet plate has recently been put to test in the US with amazing weight loss results.

A group of overweight people who also suffer from diabetes used the plate for 6 months and were able to lose weight and reduce the need for diabetes medication. The plate is designed to make portion measurement much easier - by showing portion sizes of carbohydrates, proteins, vegetables etc.

Of those who used the plate for six months, 17 percent lost 5 percent or more of their weight, an amount considered clinically important because it cuts risks of obesity-related conditions like heart disease and cancer. In the group that didn’t use the plate, fewer than one person in 20 lost a clinically important amount.

There are different plates for men and women and I think it is a great idea to give some transparency to what you are eating. Rather than rely on weight loss gimmicks, this will teach you long term habits which you need to eat a healthy balanced diet. this has many health benefits other than weight loss.

To the many women out there who would like to lose a few pounds it may be worth a try, and if you drop a dress size you can celebrate with a brand new wardrobe from Curvety.com

Lily Allen feels media pressure to be thin

Lily Allen is always up for a celebity slanging match, but it seems recent comments from Cheryl Cole and Amy Winehouse fans have thrown the normally stable singer off kilter.

Lily reports - 'I used to pride myself on being strong minded and not being some stupid girl obsessed with the way I look. I felt like it didnt matter if I was a bit chubby cause, im not a model, I'm a singer . Im afraid I am not strong and have fallen victim to the evil machine . I write to you in a sea of tears from my hotel bed in Seattle , I have spent the past hour researching gastric bypass surgery , and laser lipo suction'.

In a later post Allen said Cole's jibe, coupled with the constant comparisons to supermodel Kate Moss as they launched rival fashion ranges was what pushed her over the edge. It seems Lily soon recovered from her moment of self pity and apologised to (and thanked) her supportive fans.

Reading through the replies to her blogs I am glad to see that her fans are of the same opinion as me, which is that Lily is a gorgeous woman who is an excellent role model to teens of today. Most female celebrities portray the image that thin is happy no matter what the cost and until now Lily has been anti this size prejudice. Dress like Lily with a selection of fab dresses from Curvety.com

Exercising after eating can help weight loss

Well, we have always known that exercise is required as part of a healthy lifestyle, and regular exercise can aid weight loss as part of a calorie controlled diet. But UK scientists now say that exercising after meals can also help promote weight loss by boosting hormones that suppress appetite.

Experiments suggest that these hormones cause active people to feel less hungry immediately after exercise, and this carries through to their next meal.

Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said: 'This is an interesting study. Patients often report that they feel increased hunger and eat more after exercise. 'What this study shows is that, although total calorific intake is greater, the net result, because of the exercise taken, is a reduction in the net energy balance. 'Dieting is never easy. Increased physical activity is an essential part of any weight management programme, not just to expend more calories but also, as we see here, to help control our appetite too.'

Researcher Dr Denise Robertson said: 'In the past we have been concerned that, although exercise burns energy, people subsequently ate more after working out. This would cancel out any possible weight reduction effects of exercise. But our research shows that exercise may alter people's appetite to help them lose weight and prevent further weight gain as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.'

It is recommended that you partake in at least 30 minutes of physical activity a minimum of 5 times per week.

Start your new regime with a new fitness outfit - leggings and cami's available in large sizes at Curvety.com

The Surrey University and Imperial College London work is published in the Journal of Endocrinology.

Story of a Plus Size Model

How to be a successful curvy model without letting the pressure to diet get to you...

Scottish Supermodel Louise MacCallum earns a fortune jetting around the world and living out most young girls fantasy. But unlike most of the ultra-slim, size zero girls who sashay down the catwalk at fashion shows, Louise boasts her beautiful curves and knows what it feels like to have the relentless pressure to lose weight.

Now at a healthy size 14-16, the 5ft 10in plus size model battled an eating disorder in the early years of her career. with her weight dropping to seven stone before she realised the price she was paying to conform.

'I hadn't thought about modelling until a family friend who had modelled in the Sixties suggested I give it a go. It was something to do in the summer holidays and I thought 'why not'. It was a really exciting experience.'

She was signed up by the world-famous Storm model agency and was expected to follow in the footsteps of supermodel Kate Moss, but in between her first meeting with the agency and completing her school exams she started putting on weight as her body developed to a healthy size 12.

Louise was told to lose weight or kiss her modelling career goodbye. 'On one shoot I was called 'the fat one' and I'd have to put up with sly comments on jobs. It made me more determined to prove them wrong by losing a dress size. First I stopped buttering my toast, then I skipped having toast and finally I opted not to eat breakfast at all.'

All the other models looked so skinny and I felt so much pressure. I was told if I was curvy I wouldn't get work.

''I'd skip breakfast then have a Diet-Coke at 11am. If I was feeling particularly hungry I'd eat some chewing gum. I smoked a lot of cigarettes too and at lunchtime I'd buy a red pepper from Safeways. ''I got into the habit of eating red peppers like you'd eat an apple. I chose a red pepper because it had less calories than an apple.'

'I was still living at home so I'd be starving during the evening. I'd eat the dinner my mum had made me then go in to the bathroom to throw it all back up.'

Her career was going well and she even featured at London Fashion Week but her body was suffering. Her periods had stopped, her skin was pale, she had no energy and suffered dizzy spells.

'I was down to a size eight, which was a tiny size for my frame,' says Louise. 'I didn't see myself as ill. It just became the norm. At home I'd cover up my body with baggy clothes. If my mum asked how a casting had gone I'd say, 'don't ask me, just leave me alone'.

'Starving myself meant my mood became unbalanced but I think my mum just thought I was a moody teenager.'

Finally Louise had had enough and when she was offered 6 months work in Sydney she took the escape. 'I got away from some of the pressures I'd felt at home,' says Louise. 'The look they were after in Australia was more beach babe. Curvier girls were more popular so I started eating better. I was still thin but when I looked in the mirror I thought I was fat.

'Upon her return Louise was forced to face the truth when her sister burst into tears when she saw her. Louise says: 'I've always been very close to my sister and I trust her. She told me I looked awful and I remember her asking, 'what on earth have you done to yourself?' 'I didn't go for counselling - my sister was my counsellor. She was great and showed me I could be successful without worrying about my size.'

Louise resigned from her agency and got an office job where she did not feel she was judged for the size of her hips - 'I felt like I was finally healing,' she says.

She gradually put on weight and with the increase in her dress size she also gained her strength and self confidence. Eating sensibly again allowed her to start working out at the gym twice a week - something she didnt have the energy for before. 'I was happy. I was eating healthily but I'd still allow myself treats like chocolate ice cream. I was learning to enjoy life again.'

In October 2000 Louise felt able to return to modelling. She signed up as a plus size model with Allison Bramwell's agency, Excel.

Soon she was living in New York as a celebrated plus size model - 'At the after-show party in Milan all the plus-size models went out to lunch. The room was full of laughter as we ate Italian cheeses, pasta and drank champagne.'

Today with a 29-inch waist, 42-inch hips and a 36C bust, Louise is more in demand for modelling work than she ever was at her skinniest and has worked for many leading brands but being chosen to open Milan Fashion Week this spring in a gorgeous black Elena Miro dress was an unforgettable moment for Louise.

'I felt so honoured,' she says. 'I knew the applause was for Elena's designs, but in my heart it was the final acceptance of who I really was. I'm a completely different person from who I was 10 years ago - I'm stronger and happier.'

Her advice for girls considering a career in modelling is simple...

'Don't be affected by it all,' says Louise. 'Some women are naturally very skinny but many starve themselves to stay on the catwalk. Be who you are and be careful.'

If like Louise you love your voluptuous figure check out Curvety.com for a fab range of plus size fashion which celebrates your curves instead of drowning them.

War of the sizes - Fat V Skinny

The Daily Mail has recently asked two women to pose for pictures, one is a size 0 (UK size 4) and the other is an 18, in the hope of raising awareness of the increasing weight issues in the UK today. So - Is media coverage of size zero celebrities directly responsible for the increase in eating disorders in young girls? Or is the steady rise in obesity a far more worrying problem?



Both women appear to eat a healthy balanced diet but nutritionist Fiona Hunter believes that the size zero model - Sasha Larner is eating less than half of the recommended daily calorie intake, and the majority of these are made up of biscuits & alcohol. Fiona had higher praise for the well balanced diet of Mikyla Dodd of Hollyoaks & Celebrity fit club fame.Both women claim to be happy with their weight, although Mikyla has recently slimmed down from 19st 2lb to 15st 7lb, losing 44lb when taking part in Celebrity fit club.



She says: "I am perfectly content with my lot. If I never lose another pound, I will be happy. I am a desirable woman. I've got great boobs and my last boyfriend said I had a nice bum. I've certainly got no inhibitions when it comes to the bedroom. I know for a fact that you don't have to be slim to be sexy. I feel much better now that I've lost some weight - but I'd never want to be a size zero. Pictures of people like Nicole Richie in her swimwear are so worrying. They are all skin and bone, and look as though they might snap."



Read the full article here



If you're happy with your curves then dress to impress in the sexy maya chiffon dress from igigi. It can be purchased from UK plus size clothing store Curvety.com

British model Sophie Dahl writes an intimate food memoir

Sophie Dahl was the original British plus size icon who was proud to show her size 16 figure to the world in a number of 'bare all' shoots including one for Yves st Laurent and their perfume 'Opium'. In more recent years Sophie has bowed to the pressure of the industry and has shrunk to a size 8.

It has now come to light that Sophie is writing a tell-all memoir about her problems with food and has signed a deal with publisher HarperCollins to write the book. A HarperCollins spokesman says, 'This is going to be an intimate food memoir. It will be a very personal piece of writing on her thoughts and relationship with food. But the book will not just be about her feelings on the subject - it's also going to be a celebration of food. And I can assure you: there will be nothing in there about faddish diets.' As the daughter of Roald Dahl she has a lot to live up to if she is to be a successful author but Sophie has already had a number of short stories published.

Get the look at Curvety.com with the Mariana lace sleeve top.

REAL CURVES MODEL REFUSES SIZE '0' DIET IN HOPE OF HALTING FASHION INDUSTRIES UNHEALTHY OBSESSION

Jen Hunter has already proved her popularity with the general public through her success as the final woman in Five's show, Make Me A Supermodel. But she could never have guessed the waves she would make in the fashion industries current super skinny model debate.

Her vital stats are impressive: 6'0 tall and although she's just lost two inches from her waist, she weighs around 11 stone and remains a size 12.

The show's judges saw her as a thorn in their side and her size 12 figure was ridiculed on the programme. She was called stocky, lazy and greedy. But ordinary woman throughout the country were disgusted by this promotion of anorexia as judges drooled over the bony figure of fellow competitor Marianne Berglund, a US size zero, equivalent to a UK size four.

The nastiness reached its low-point when judge Tandy Anderson, boss of a model agency, laughed when Jen was knocked out. 'Originally I thought I'd been put in for a reason, I thought they were going to be positive about my size. Now I'm not sure whether I was put in as a token gesture'.

If that was the judges' plan it backfired. While Jen admits she felt depressed inside the house where the show was filmed, outside and unknown to her, public support was growing. When she was voted the winner in the female category, she couldn't believe it.

Now, with politicians, designers and high street stores following her lead, Jen has hit out at the TV show's presenter, Rachel Hunter, and says she hopes the changes being demanded of the industry aren't a flash in the pan.

She said: 'I'm hoping that what I have gone through has helped change beliefs and I am praying that it's going to carry on changing. It would be a shame for the size zero debate to be a flash in the pan, we wouldn't have achieved enough if it stopped now.'

After the show Jen had problems finding a mainstream modelling agency that would take on a size 12. 'There were 'plus size' agencies keen to sign me up but I thought that went against what I was trying to stand up for. Then I was really lucky to join Cape London, who are promoting me in a positive way and not as plus-size or anything else other than a fashion model.'

Most recently Jen was signed as the face of the new Nokia fashion phone and hopes to continue promoting healthy body image. I'm sure she will continue to play an important role in the current size debates.

Being more voluptuous definitely doesn't mean frumpy. Particularly when there is now so much fashion choice - such as this Gorgeous dress available at Curvety.com.

Will nutritional labelling help the nations fight against obesity

There has been a lot of media hype around the worry of rising obesity levels in Britain in the last few months.
Extraordinary preventative measures suggested include health warnings in plus size clothes and even more amazingly - a fat tax! Both of which I am sure will go a long way to helping the mental state of anyone over a size 16.
On the flip side - something good always comes from such PR.
Some of the UK's biggest food manufacturers are launching a £4m campaign to promote nutritional labels. The labels show percentages of guideline daily amounts (GDA) of sugar, salt, fat and calories in each serving. Another way is to use colours - red, amber and green labels - where green is good and red warns not to consume too much - approved by the Food Standards Agency.
I think this is a huge step forward - convenvience food is a necessity to many due to the fast paced nature of our lives, however it has to take responsibility for some of the food issues surrounding the western world today. Much of the time people eat things which they have no idea of its contents, and this is often used to the advantage of manufacturers who can increasingly up the levels of salt, sugar and fat to improve flavour and shelf life to the detriment of the health or weight of the consumer.
Offering more transparency into the food we are eating gives everyone the chance to take control of their nutritional balance whilst still living in the real world where it isn't realistic to cook from scratch.
There are 21 companies involved and the general consensus is that people will stop buying products with red labels. Does this mean manufacturers will have to work to improve the contents of the 'red' foods? Only a good thing if you ask me.
The GDA campaign is supported by a coalition of the UK's biggest food and drink manufacturers as well as supermarkets Tesco, Somerfield and Morrison and will be shown on print and TV adverts soon.

Anna Nicole Smith - Fridge proves she had issues

Anna Nicole Smith died on Thursday, aged 39, after being discovered unconscious in her hotel room. The cause of death is not yet confirmed, however everyone has an opinion and the general consensus is drug related.

TMZ.com has discovered a photo of the inside of Anna Nicole's fridge in the hotel that she was staying in. They say they have 100% verified that the photo is authentic. The photo was taken after she died and the contents and possible consequences are shocking. For those of you who aren't aware, Anna Nicole is a spokesperson for controversial diet pill TRIMSPA after reportedly losing 69lbs using the product. So it is no surprise that next to the fridge are several bottles of TRIMSPA. However - finding a number of cans of slimfast inside was more telling.

Alongside the slimfast was miracle 2000 (marketed as a nutritional supplement for 'today's active lifestyle', French's Worcestershire Sauce, yogurt and spray butter. This mix of diet supplements and 'almost foods' paint a very bleak picture of the daily fight that Anna Nicole underwent to maintain a figure she was happy with.

One of the most shocking finds was methadone as autopsy reports showed that her son had died from a combination of the methadone drug in his system only 5 months earlier. Another surprising find in the fridge was several vials of medication that appeared usable by injection only.

Ironically, Anna Nicole's role model was Marilyn Monroe, the original voluptuous icon who died of a drug overdose at age 36 in 1962.

It goes to show that being happy with who and what you are is the most important thing. Entering into the unknown world of quick fixes to maintain what you perceive as the ideal outward persona is not only psychologically damaging - it may well be that it can kill you! I for one would like to lose weight but intend to do it the safe and tested way and in the mean time I can get the sultry voluptuous look without the health issues

Average woman's weight yo-yo's by 26 stone in their lifetime

New research by Tanita has shown that the average British woman will put on a staggering 15.5 stone in their lifetime and lost 10 stone. This means an average fluctuation of 26 stone caused by yo yo dieting - the equivelant of 10 shopping bags full of fat!!!

The research showed that 78% of women worry about their weight and 20% say it is constantly on their mind with half of these weighing themselves daily!Clearly we are a nation obsessed with our image - yet we progressively put on weight! If as a nation we were less weight obsessed maybe we would all be a little healthier and probably a whole lot happier. A healthy diet and regular exercise will make you feel great and will allow your body to find it's own optimum weight, we are all built differently and some of us aren't designed to fit the new size '0'.

So what are the reasons behind these extraordinary figures...

Most state that the reason they diet is clothes not fitting right, other reasons are a forthcoming holiday or a spiteful comment. We all like to look our best so it is understandable that women want a wardrobe they can look great in, but is it necessary to starve for this pleasure? Not any more. You can look great if you shop to your shape. Try Curvety.com for some great wardrobe ideas that wont involve a week of cabbage soup!