Tim Gunn teams with Weight Watchers

Ok, I didn't see this one coming. Tim Gunn teaming with Weight Watchers?  We've come to love his tidy, proper, tasteful input on Project Runway, but giving advice via Weight Watchers....well, we'll have to see how the organization uses him.  His quote toward the end, "If getting fashion right were easy, everyone would look fabulous, but it can be challenging."  is a little more in keeping with the Tim Gunn voice I'm used to hearing on TV.

So, with no further commentary, here are bits from the press release- hot off the wires at 5 p.m. today, January 13, 2011:

Weight Watchers, the world's leading provider of weight management services, has teamed up with Fashion Consultant Tim Gunn, to inspire people on their weight loss journey.  In addition to providing fashion tips for the many stages of weight loss, Tim also served as a fashion consultant for the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ program advertising campaign featuring Jennifer Hudson and real life Weight Watchers success stories. During 2011 there will be other exciting opportunities for Weight Watchers members and Weight Watchers Online subscribers to benefit from Tim's tips and motivation to ultimately feel better about how they look. ... 
Here are some of Tim's top style tips:

• Follow three fashion fundamentals: silhouette, proportion and fit. When they are in harmony and balance, anyone can look fabulous.  
• Invest in the essentials: wrap dresses, belts and skirt/top combinations. Each of these items can be introduced into the wardrobe at any point during weight loss and will have long lasting staying power as you continue to lose weight.
• Shop smartly: when people shop on a budget they are very thoughtful and mindful about how new items will fit into their wardrobe and lifestyle and how they will transition throughout the weight loss journey. Think strategically about your overall wardrobe and how the garments you are purchasing will fit in.
• Embrace your shape: even if it seems that everyone is wearing a particular style one season, be sure to evaluate how it will work with your shape before committing to purchase it yourself. Embrace your own shape—it's beautiful -- and adopt the trends that accentuate your best features.

"I am so proud to be working with Weight Watchers on this extraordinary project and was so inspired by the stories of wonderful success. Nothing makes me happier than providing guidance and tips to help people look great as they lose weight and get healthier," said Tim Gunn. "If getting fashion right were easy, everyone would look fabulous, but it can be challenging. The combination of the PointsPlus program and providing helpful styling tips is great because it helps people celebrate their new look and recalibrate their thinking about style, while finding an enhanced self-confidence."
Visit WeightWatchers.com to view Tim Gunn's style tips for the weight loss journey and to check out Tim's work in the new advertising campaign.

Americans spending more on themselves in 2011

 I just posted an article on San Jose Fitness Examiner about how Americans plan to spend on health and fitness in 2011. Actually, I found the entire overview from American Express very interesting, and am printing a larger portion of the information here for those who, like me, get very wonkish about data:

Americans are ringing in the New Year with new intentions, according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker. More than half of adults are planning to spend more (14 percent) or the same (40 percent) in 2011 than they did last year, with the majority of that spending focused on themselves.  Personal savings rates are still well above pre-recession levels and consumers will remain focused on saving, but they will set aside less than they did in 2010.  After setting aggressive savings goals for 2010 -- $14,000 on average -- consumers are paring back their savings target this year to a more modest $2,600. 

The latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker¹ explores consumers’ views about their spending intentions and financial goals for the New Year.  The research sample of 2,025 adults included the general U.S. population, as well as two subgroups - the affluent² and young professionals³.

“While consumers are still focused on getting their financial house in order as we head into 2011, it’s encouraging to see that they also feel more optimistic about their finances.” said Pamela Codispoti, senior vice present and general manager of Cardmember Services, American Express.  “They’re setting more realistic savings goals and believe they’ve gained some financial breathing room to spend a bit more than in 2010.” 

Spending More … On Themselves

In terms of where consumers will spend in 2011, maintaining their appearance is king.  Top categories include grooming (73 percent), health/fitness (70 percent) and clothing for themselves (61 percent).  Categories at the bottom of the list include video game systems and games (34 percent), jewelry (34 percent), portable media players (32 percent), and tablet computers (i.e. the i-Pad) or e-book readers (30 percent).

Slimming Wallets for Waistlines

Similar to 2010, consumers cited “exercising more” and “losing weight” as their top three and four New Year resolutions, respectively, behind saving money and spending more time with friends and family.  However, more than one in four (28 percent) consumers who are starting the year with a savings strategy would sacrifice a portion of their savings to achieve their goal weight.

To reach their fitness goal, consumers plan to put their money where their mouth is.  In fact, 47 percent of consumers plan to spend more on health and fitness in 2011, primarily on:

·         Gym Memberships: average of $131 per month

·         Fitness equipment: average of $127 per month

• Personal trainer: average of $127 per month
• Eating programs: average of $75 per month

·         Fitness-related video games: average of $60 per month

Significantly Reducing Debt Remains Top Financial Goal

While saving money was the top New Year resolution for 2011, fewer are setting financial goals this year.  (83 percent in 2011, down from 89 percent in 2010).  For those who set financial goals, significantly reducing or paying off debt before the end of the year tops the list (17 percent).  Other financial goals include:

·       Save a percentage of household income each month (15 percent)

·       Only buy what they can afford (14 percent)

·       Find a better or higher paying job (10 percent)

·       Save enough money to travel (6 percent)

American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research was completed online among a random sample of 2,025 consumers aged 18+. Interviewing was conducted by Echo Research between December 10 and December 15, 2010. Overall, the results have a margin of error of +/- 2.2percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. For access to previous American Express Spending & Saving Tracker results, please visit www.americanexpress.com/aboutus

 

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Eye fitness becomes super chic with Lady Gaga at CES; GL20 camera glasses debut

January 7th, 2011 1:53 pm EST   We all know how important sunglasses are to eye fitness and to outdoor workouts in general.  January 6,  Lady Gaga and Polaroid amped that importance several thousand-fold by upping the  cool factor Gaga-style.  At the 2011 CES Polaroid press conference, Polaroid creative director Lady Gaga unveiled the Grey Line GL20 Camera Glasses: functional sunglasses that allow you to take pictures and display pictures on 1.5" LCD screens so others can see them.… Read more ►

Low cal margarita is a good way to start those fitness resolutions

The good PR folks at Casa Noble sent out a press release touting this Skinny Margarita as a  low calorie option for the new year.  Makes sense to me.

According to Casa Noble, a margarita made with a mix (or one of those pre-bottled drinks) comes in around 327 calories.  This one has less than 190 calories.  So if you are preparing for a New Years Day marathon at your house, consider offering this mixology as an alternative:

Skinny Margarita
2 oz Casa Noble Crystal
1 oz fresh lime juice (or the juice of 1 whole lime)
¾ oz La Sierra agave nectar (or other organic agave nectar)

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, strain and serve up or on the rocks. Garnish with a lime wheel.
 
For more information on Casa Noble, visit www.casanobletequila.com

Healthy eating: Open Face Wild Albacore Lemony Tuna Melt

Fitness eating, or perhaps better said "eating for fitness", is tough. At least for me, it's easy to stay reasonably active. But eating healthy? I've got years (make that decades) of habits to break when it comes to what I eat.

One of my fitness goals for 2010 was to begin to think of my diet as part of my overall fitness plan.  As we head into 2011, I'm looking for real foods that I can cook in a way that are satisfying meals.  My friend Steffi turned me on to a recipe for beans and sweet potato stew a few months back and it's a diet staple.  I'm on the hunt for more.

Over at San Jose Fitness Examiner, I did a review of Wild Planet tuna (New tests raise alerts about mercury in tuna; Wild Planet foods offer solutions).  The northern California company sells an albacore tuna with half the mercury, six times the Omega 3 and is  a Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch "Best Choice."  

I asked the team at Wild Planet for some ideas on dishes I could make with the tuna - and they suggested the following tuna melt served on whole grain bread.  Sounds pretty good to me, though I haven't tried it yet.  See what you think:


Makes 2 Sandwiches

Ingredients

1 can (5oz) Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna, undrained
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1-2 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 Tbsp finely chopped red onion
2 tsp chopped parsley
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 slices Monterey Jack or provolone cheese
4 slices vine ripened tomato
2 thick slices ciabatta or other hearty bread, lightly toasted

Instructions

Preheat broiler. Place Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna and juices from the can into a medium bowl. Flake with a fork. Add lemon juice, mayonnaise, red onion, parsley, red pepper flakes, sea salt and pepper to taste. Mix until well combined. Mound tuna mixture onto two slices of ciabatta bread, top each with two slices of cheese. Place on a sheet pan and broil about four inches from heat until cheese melts, taking care to prevent cheese from burning. Top with tomatoes and serve.