Diet Wars: Bertinelli Vs. Osmond

Yes, there are comparisons to be made between the two stars, but calling it a "diet war" and pitting them against each other only perpetuates a negative environment where reaching your own goals are overlooked and progress is measured not by their own achievements but whether they "lost more" than the other person. This is not what a healthy lifestyle is about.

Hi - I hate the focus on pounds lost. I just finished Marie's new book (Might As Well Laugh About It Now) and she has a really poignant chapter on the emotional and physical issues involved with her gaining weight.

It really was terrible what they did to her as she grew up and how they made it seem so important to look thin (which led to bulimia, among other things). The chapter, and interviews I've seen, are totally opposite to this idea of a pounds war and focus more on her fear that she'd die early as a result of her lifestyle.

Just for info, also, as a Marie fan, I can say -- Marie's future plans are to continue her sold-out show in Las Vegas through 2011, finish her third book and debut her talk show in September. I guess her CD would debut about the same time as the talk show. She also just signed a big deal to expand her home products, doll and crafts lines.

Yes, these companies are in it for money for sure. Hey, I applaud the weight loss BUT they are getting paid, they then get this stuff for free when they can afford it & the average person mostly can't these days & they get new life in their careers...so they get a lot more than lost weight. Yes, and with people watching, you are more likely to lose the weight. But like many of these programs, people do gain it back, like Kirstie Alley. Although Weight Watchers has a good rating.

I just cringe at the 1200 calories a day but I know many do that to lose weight... I probably did way back when I knew less. Now I choose to maintain my weight by healthy eating & yes, working out a bit more than the normal because I want to eat more calories in the day. At 51, my body wants to hold onto every little bit! It was hard even when I was younger.

The other thing I disapproved of is this "I really cut back on my calories & worked out way more for this photo shoot". Yes, I understand people will do this for a shoot, but for me, I could probably take 7-10 days, manipulate my food, & be ready so I don't like that they say I lost all this weight but then do this for the photo shoot. I want to see them every day BEFORE the exercise/cut the calories just for the shoot!

Also, let's not forget that as much as the celebs may claim to be "just like us", they are far from it. They are just like us except with loads of money in the bank. If I could quit my job and devote four hours a day to a highly paid personal trainer I would look great too! You can't tell me that Ms. Bertinelli got that bikini body by just sitting around eating Jenny Craig food. She looks great, but I'm sure she had to work out like crazy to look that good, and not just thirty minutes of walking here and there.

I just hate Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem and any other prepackaged meal plan that basically takes any thinking out of how to eat healthy. Any idiot can lose weight if you give them three boxes of food and say "eat one of these at 7 am, one at noon, and one at 5 pm and you'll lose weight". No duh, people! The problem is when you stop buying the food and go "off the program". That's when people gain the weight back. Kirstie Alley went off JC and gained all her weight back again because it didn't teach her how to eat in the real world; all her food was premeasured and prepackaged. Valerie Bertinelli is still on JC, so of COURSE she is still maintaining her weight. If she goes off the plan, she may indeed gain the weight back and then JC will just do what they normally do and find a new spokesperson. Same with Nutrisystem. They wouldn't make any money if they actually taught people how to eat on their own, would they? So they have to rely on people either buying their ripoff food for their whole lives or going on and off the program repeatedly, gaining and losing weight over and over again.

The thing is that of course these companies are in it to make money. Unfortunately, many people are of the mindset that if they use these plans they will look like Valerie or Marie. I tried NutriSystem at one time and it is expensive and you still have to add your own dairy, fruits & veggies. As far as I am concerned the food is not that fantastic.

At 69, I was able to take off 33 lbs by following the Weight Watchers plan. Yes, they are also in it to make money and hope to sell their own food brands. But the biggest difference is they didn't tell me I had to eat their foods and they do promote healthy eating and exercise. They also promote keeping it off for members attending meetings by making if free if you stay with the 2# +/- of your goal. My only complaint is that when you do it online only there are no freebies but I can understand the reason that there aren't

Hi,,,while celebrities like all of these women lose weight,,they are paid very handsomely as we all know. The issue is what will happen after the camera and lights go off, as yes we did this happen with Kirstie, who had the courage and guts to come back and tell us yes, she screwed up again. This has happened to many women including myself but for the past 20 years or so I have had 140 pounds off and I did it all by myself with diet but more important exercise has been the key to my success. The other part is the motivation and attitude that you need to keep focused on a daily basis. My hats off to all of them but time will tell who will be a long-term success.

I must say, to those of you that have never had to "diet" and no nothing of these plans, do your research. Nutri-system is just not about "pre-packaged" foods....yes, they do send you your main course, but you have to incorporate fresh vegetables, fruit and dairy into the meals they send you. The food is not the most appetizing...for I have done it, and lost 40 lbs and kept it off. I went from 150 to 110 and have kept it off for a year, because Nutri-system taught me how to balance my meals and eat nutritionally. I go to the gym, work out 4 days a week, on my own, without the help of a personal trainer. So, don't think these "stars" did it just because they are rich. You have to put the cheetos down, get your butt off the couch and just do it!!

Some people feel that they need help from someone or a plan, to lose weight. So they may go for one of the pre-packaged meal plans. Those same people should also be part of a low cost online weight loss program. They offer all kinds of weight loss help. By following their overall advice, they would then be able to transition onto their own planned diet. The pre-packaged meals can be a good way for them to lose some weight and lead them to then do it on their own.

No one ever mentions HFCS, and all the hormones in the American Diet. American food sucks. You can't eat anything in America without HFCS or hormones. UK has become the same way since American poison is available there. End the Corn Subsidy NOW!