By Bonnie Pfiester
Have you ever wondered what Sumo wrestlers eat to look the way they do? Recently, out of curiosity, I decided to do my own research and I was shocked at my findings. The Sumo diet looked a little too familiar.

First, Sumo wrestlers typically eat only two times a day, skipping breakfast to keep their metabolism low. This is also a common practice in America. Whether it’s a lack of time or appetite, many people skip breakfast. I don’t know about you, but the next time I’m tempted to skip breakfast I’ll picture myself as a Sumo wrestler.

The next rule for the overweight athlete is to nap after eating. Their secret to gaining weight is to sleep for at least 4 hours after each meal. Although most American’s don’t take 4-hour naps, we typically return to our office chair with little activity.

Obi Obadike, Francisca Dennis, Inside Fitness, and Paul Dillett of the WBFF have made history by helping to produce the first Black male and female fitness model couple on the cover of a Canadian Fitness Magazine. Obi and Francisca were featured on the Winter issue of Inside Fitness, which is the #1 fitness magazine in Canada.

Obi Obadike, as you may know, is a major contributor over at ClarkBartram.com. His quick rise in the fitness modeling has caused him to receive a lot of attention and we’re sure to see more of him in the future.
In September of this year, Obi was part of the first African-American couple on the cover of a U.S. fitness magazine. He appeared on the cover of Max Sports Fitness Magazine along with our own fitness writer and celebrity trainer Basheerah Ahmed. Second, he was the first African-American male fitness model to land an international supplement ad for Dymatize Nutrition in Sept of 08 and now in December, he made his way onto the cover of Inside Fitness.

Do you yoga? If you do, are you using a yoga block or other prop that facilitates your moves? Yoga blocks are small exercise aids made of cork or foam. They help make yoga practitioners more comfortable while also improving one’s alignment. Blocks are inexpensive and can really make a difference in your workout, especially for certain positions.

By Bonnie Pfiester

When I think of aerobics classes I can’t help but think of Jazzercise, leotards, and leg warmers. Thank goodness aerobics classes have evolved over the years into so much more than just floor aerobics and bad styles.

Today, health clubs offer a large spectrum of group exercise like Spinning, Kickboxing, Pilates, Step, Zumba, and even seated exercise classes for seniors.

So, why is group exercise growing by leaps and bounds? First and foremost, group exercise offers affordable professional guidance. Since many people can’t afford one-on-one training, group classes are a great alternative. Whether it’s learning proper form or just being motivated, group classes offer the direction, education, and encouragement so many people need.

How does “The Hills” star Lauren Conrad stay so slim? One of her secrets is the food she buys. Laguna Beach alum LC was recently spotted at Whole Foods Market in Los Angeles, making her weekly grocery pickup.

Growing up, Lauren was constantly athletic and active, maintaining a trim physique on her 5’6 frame. In recent years, however, her physical activity level slowed as she became more involved in pursuits of a career in fashion design and reality television endeavors and endorsements.

Determined to make her body a priority, Conrad turned to trainer Jarrett Del Bene, who created a customized plan for LC and her aspiring-“mactress” roommate, Audrina Partridge.

Hey, MFT parents – how do you make the time to work out while juggling life, work, and your kids? A new study from the University of Pittsburgh found that having kids made both men and women less likely to exercise. Though it’s intuitive that new mothers have less time to work out due to demanding infant feeding and sleeping schedules, new dads also must fight the battle of the bulge because of dwindling workout time. Although new fathers got about two hours more exercise, on average, than new mothers, the fathers’ workout time was cut in half after their children were born. New moms, on the other hand, lost approximately one-third of workout time.

Madonna’s turning 50, but the Material Girl doesn’t look a day over 35. How does she stay so youthful and keep that toned body? There are a couple of secrets to her success: a no-excuses ethic, long hours, and Tracy Anderson. Tracy is a revolutionary personal trainer who Gwyneth Paltrow turned to after the birth of son Moses in 2006. Desperate to lose the final ten pounds of her pregnancy weight, Tracy helped Gwyneth get back in shape for her return to the big screen in Iron Man. When Gwyneth recommended Tracy to Madonna, it was the perfect fit.Tracy doesn’t exclusively cater to celebrities; rather, she looks for clientèle who aren’t afraid to get to work or try new things. Madonna spends at least two hours in the gym each day, with no exceptions. Even her recent all-nighter 50th birthday celebration couldn’t keep her from her morning gym session.

What keeps Madonna looking so stunning, year after year? It’s a combination of her specialized training program with Anderson, a healthy diet, and frequent dance sessions. Anderson is a major believer in combining the aerobic benefits of dance with other types of exercises. She does not rely on traditional gym machines, instead utilizing a Pilates Hybrid Body Reformer (which she herself designed), small weights, and a series of toning exercises.

Let’s take a moment and talk about plateaus. If you’ve ever experienced one – and the odds are, you have – you know that it’s just about the most frustrating and dangerous thing that could happen to a fitness plan. Maybe you’ve lost a little (or a lot) of weight, but you still have more to go. Maybe you are starting to see clear definition, week by week, in your abs or arms, but then suddenly, everything seems stagnant. For weeks, the scale, tape measure, or BMI calculator doesn’t budge. It may be driving you crazy, but rest assured that this happens to everyone. Many a dieter has fallen prey to plateaus, feeling their attempts to get stronger or leaner are futile, but it is essential that you kick start your fitness routine. Here is some information from fitness experts to keep in mind the next time you find yourself on a plateau with no clear end in sight.

Well, Britney’s gone and done it again – but no ‘oops’ this time. No, the pop diva isn’t making headlines for another fender bender or neglectful parenting episode – she’s back in the spotlight because she’s slimmed down and looking the fittest she’s ever been in her entire life. After two kids and the dramatic tailspin she’s lived for the last couple of years, it’s impressive and inspiring that Ms. Spears has been able to triumph and beat her personal battle of the bulge.

Even better is that Brit’s new body hasn’t come from a typical Hollywood style crash diet or detox/surgery fix. She’s doing her part to consume natural foods. She recently told OK magazine that she has cut out processed foods, including ALL sugars. This is much easier said than done, as sugar is in practically everything we eat – fruit juice, many cereals, jam, and wine. Instead, she emphasizes healthy proteins and fats such as chicken, salmon, egg whites, and avocado.

Tracking your progress on a fitness plan is one major key to success. Here are five ways to find out if you’re losing fat and gaining muscle, without ever stepping onto a scale! Many dieters get discouraged by minor weight gains, but what they don’t realize is that they’re probably just gaining muscle. Plus, scales can fluctuate a couple of pounds per DAY. Here are five gauges of fitness that are more effective than scales.

1. The squeeze of your skinny jeans – Everyone has a pair – those killer jeans that look awesome on you when you’re in peak physical form. Maybe it’s been a few years since you’ve fit into them, but you keep them around because some day, you’ll wear them again. Skinny jeans can be a great motivator. One fun strategy is to take weight-loss-ad-style photos of yourself in your current jeans each week of your workout plan. In a few months, you, too, can have a cheesy shot of you in an oversized pair of pants – and then you can promptly change back into those sweet, skinny jeans.

Jennifer Lopez

Singer. Actress. Producer. Designer. New mom to twins. Triathlete? Yep, Jennifer Lopez is adding yet another role to her dizzying schedule. Just six months after giving birth to babies Max and Emme with husband Marc Anthony, Lopez competed in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon with Self Magazine Editor in Chief, Lucy Danziger, who helped the celebrity train for her first ever race.

Jennifer’s expressed that it’s not just about getting back into shape – it’s about the impact of her actions and the ultimate goal of finishing a triathlon. The race will benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Jennifer says she’s excited about having a goal – completing the swimming, biking, and running components to finish the race.

How did the glamor girl go from the nursery to the gym? Relentless dedication and creative scheduling. Despite her jet-setting schedule, Jennifer makes going to the gym a priority no matter what time it is – or what time zone she’s in. Friends describe a recent international trip that required Jennifer to be up early for a public event, running around all day taking meetings and caring for the twins, and ended with a late-night excursion to the gym – because J.Lo doesn’t let anything keep her from her consistent workouts, not even jet lag, a packed schedule, or bringing up two babies! The MyFitTribe team wishes J.Lo. all the best as she takes the next step in athleticism and endurance!

This week, everyone’s buzzing about Dancing with the Stars – but it’s not about which contestant was most recently eliminated. The gossip centers around professional dancer Cheryl Burke, who won top honors in seasons 2 and 3 of the reality hit with partners Drew Lachey and Emmett Smith, respectively. The 24-year-old dancer has previously been named San Francisco Latin Champion and World Cup Professional Rising Star Champion, and recently opened her own dance studio.

But recently, she’s made headlines for a noticeable weight gain. Bloggers posted rumors that the star was pregnant, but Cheryl has struck back, insisting that there is no truth to such rumors. She told the press, “You don’t have to be anorexic to be beautiful.”

By Jamie Yu

A lot of our jobs these days involve sitting at a desk, glaring at a computer screen sometimes up to 8 hour a day and beyond. The result of this over a long period of time can create tension and stiffness in our backs, wrists, neck, and legs which can only be detrimental to our overall health and wellbeing not to mention cause a decrease in productivity in the work place. As I have mentioned in another article, some of us even find our lives far to hectic to even exercise outside of work.

Here are couple of simple stretches/exercises you can do whilst seated at your desk that should bring some welcome relief:

• Shoulder Rolls: This exercise is helpful for those that sit in any one position for any considerable length of time as part our work. It’s fantastic for stress in the muscles of your back, and can also help relieve tension in the area where the trapezius is located.
  
  Sitting upright, breathe in as you lift your right shoulder to your ear. Then exhale as you slowly roll your shoulder around and back, dropping it away from your ear. Do 3 revolutions on the right side before alternating to the left shoulder.