Julie Bain

Twinkies and the Weight-Loss Blues

January 10, 2012 at 3:50 pm, by Julie Bain

Know any good Twinkie jokes? I just read that Hostess Brands Inc. is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and, as a health editor, I’ll shed no tears for the freefall of its junk-food sales. But I do feel some nostalgia for those sugary (and indestructible) lunchbox treats of my youth.

I grew up in the Midwest when processed and convenience foods were new and a novelty. My mom had been a home economist and food editor at Meredith Corp. in Des Moines, Iowa—the same company I work for now (parent of LHJ and other brands). Mom believed in home-cooked meals, including fresh produce from the garden when possible, and desserts only for special occasions. But sometimes, when my brother or sister and I begged for the sugary cereals we saw on Saturday morning TV commercials (Quisp and Quake!) or those hot-pink gelatinous Hostess Sno Balls others had in their lunchboxes, Mom would give in. But in general, we were all about moderation. We didn’t drink a lot of sodas, didn’t snack much, and we ran around and played outside all year round. We were not overweight and we seldom saw kids who were.

I learned more about food and nutrition as I grew up, and went through every food fad, from the Julia Child classical French experiments of the ’70s to the low-fat, high-carb, pasta- and Snackwell’s-eating ’80s to the high-protein bacon-scented Atkins ’90s to the locavore, whole-foods 2000s. Somehow, through it all, I’ve savored and enjoyed all kinds of foods without much dieting or obsessing. In fact, I’ve pretty much managed to stay within 10 pounds of my high-school weight for several decades. Nothing that virtuous about it: I just never went way overboard—and (here’s the real secret), I never starved myself.

The more we learn about metabolism, the more we know how much dieting screws it up—sometimes for life. Once you gain a lot of weight, it’s really, really hard to lose it and then keep it off. Big weight loss changes your physiology in ways we’re just beginning to understand, and only the most disciplined people seem to be able to maintain it. Tara Parker-Pope wrote a fascinating piece about this called “The Fat Trap”  in The New York Times recently, and it’s worth a read. Maintaining weight loss is possible, not hopeless. But the best bet is never to gain much weight in the first place.

Of course, that advice is much too late for a lot of folks. And the New Year is when they decide to do something about it. That’s why our friends at Yahoo! tell us that online searches for “how to lose weight quickly” are up more than 300 percent, and interest is extremely high right now for “Snooki weight loss.” How did the pint-size Jersey Shore star get down to 98 pounds? I don’t think I want to know. And based on the latest research, sadly, her loss probably won’t last.

Photo by Christian Cable on flickr.com.

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What We Love Most About the Holidays

December 13, 2011 at 1:02 pm, by Julie Bain

Our staff here at Ladies’ Home Journal is not just incredibly talented, hard-working and yes, nice (hear that, Santa?), but they’re also a sentimental bunch. So we’ve shared some of our favorite rituals, memories and traditions below—just for fun.

Ever since I got my French bulldog, Smuckers, two years ago, my obsession is designing holiday cards featuring him in festive garb. (I use tinyprints.com.) Last year he was an elf (a pretty angry-looking one); this year he’s dressed as Peeved (left), one of Santa’s lesser-known reindeer. Lest you feel too sorry for him, note that he was paid handsomely in cheese cubes for enduring the three-minute photo shoot. And if you think this makes me a little bit crazy, well…you might be right. But with a face like that, how can I resist? —Jessica Brown, features editor

When my son, Oliver, was 3 we gave him his first Duplo blocks. He loved them so much it started a holiday tradition, and we still give him a Lego set each year. He’s 19 now! —Jeffrey Saks, creative director

When I was little, my parents had one Christmas record that we played over and over: The Andy Williams Christmas Album. Now I have it on CD, and I love listening to it (no matter how uncool) because it brings back good memories of opening presents with my brothers. —Kate Lawler, executive editor

What I love most about the holidays is that my 85-year-old mom is vibrant, happy and healthy and is still around to share this special season with us. —Sally Lee, editor-in-chief

I always feel grateful at Christmastime (when I’m not cursing the crazy crowds, that is) that I live in New York City. This time of year is pure magic in the Big Apple! —Lorraine Glennon, senior books & articles editor

Ever since I’ve outgrown toys, I’m all about the cookies this time of year. Christmas. Hanukkah. Kwanzaa. Las Posadas. Whatever. I’m totally interfaith and multicultural in the month of December. Whoever/whatever you celebrate, I will eat your cookies. And, no matter how Grinchy I get in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the Charlie Brown Christmas album by Vince Guaraldi always brings a smile to my face. (And gets me dancing like a Peanut.) —Ron Kelly, managing editor

For me, it’s decorating the house. This year I’ve tapped into my inner Martha Stewart by putting a Christmas tree in every major room. My big helper is my 3-year-old, who likes to hang all the ornaments on the same branch. Sigh. —Susan Pocharski, entertainment director Read more

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What Are We Thankful For?

November 22, 2011 at 3:36 pm, by Julie Bain

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Relatively untainted by commercial endeavors (despite earlier store openings to get a jump on Black Friday), it’s a day of togetherness, loved ones, great food and wine, football, autumn leaves, fighting over who’s going to do the dishes and, yes, being grateful for what you’ve got. Studies have shown that expressing what you’re grateful for reduces stress and increases your well-being, but we already knew that! So in the spirit of the season (and because it’s more fun than getting our real work done), some of our LHJ staffers share what they’re most thankful for right now:

• I’m thankful for my best friend and roomie Nadine, who just finished chemo cycle number nine and still cooks for me. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at 24. I’m so happy that she’s chugging through her treatment. Even though it’s hard sometimes, we still make it to happy hour when we can! —Amelia Harnish, editorial assistant

• I’m thankful for going to see the new Muppet movie with old friends from high school when we are all home for the holidays. —Gab Porcaro, associate fashion editor

• I’m thankful for my new husband—and for the fact that I don’t have to plan a wedding ever again. —Catherine LeFebvre, senior editor, lhj.com

• I am thankful that my Save the Children sponsor child writes me back and says that his favorite subject in school is reading. —Ron Kelly, managing editor

Ron’s also funny, so we had to give him two more:
• I am thankful that neither of my cats have expressed an interest in going to college.
• One thing I’m not thankful for is that there are no pajama jeans for men, which would surely make the aftermath of Thanksgiving dinner a whole lot more comfortable. (Granted, not for my family, but for me.)

• I’m grateful every day that I have two amazing daughters that inspire me and make me want to be my best self. —Diane Malloy, publisher

• I’m thankful for all the delicious afternoon snacks that come out of our LHJ test kitchens. (Hey, chocolate cake is good for your soul!) I’m also thankful that my wonderful parents are in good health—and still happily married after 53 years.  —Kate Lawler, executive editor Read more

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Lady in Red: A Symbol of Hope

September 14, 2011 at 4:49 pm, by Julie Bain

Last night our new LHJ editorial intern Carisa McLaughlin headed downtown to meet some ladies in red gathered to empower women to put their health first. Here’s her report:

The American Heart Association’s campaign Go Red For Women, along with actress Elizabeth Banks, created a film entitled Just a Little Heart Attack in order to warn women that heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women.

At the premiere event, there were six courageous women who spoke about their firsthand experiences with heart disease. They varied in age and race and all had unique and touching anecdotes to share. I couldn’t believe one woman’s story. Only 40 years old, she was in the middle of what she said was the best date she’d had in a long time when she thought she was having first-date jitters. Turned out, though, she was actually having a stroke! Yes, it happens. All the special guests there, including Elizabeth Banks (who has a family history of heart disease), expressed how they’ve made it their mission to share what they’ve learned about heart disease with at least five other women. Pass it on!

In the short film directed by and starring Banks, we get a glimpse of a mother’s typical morning ritual—getting ready for work while also rounding up her kids for school and helping out her husband. But the day quickly turns sour as she’s faced with a frightening situation. You can watch Banks’ surprisingly funny film below. But remember that heart disease is no joke.

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6 Weeks to a Younger You: Week 6

September 13, 2011 at 12:22 pm, by Julie Bain

Welcome to the final segment of our “6 Weeks to a Younger You” plan. This week is about finding your balance—literally and figuratively.

FIND YOUR BALANCE
First, the literal. Your equilibrium starts to dwindle as you get more, ahem, mature. And that can lead to falls and fractures later—which can really affect the quality of your life and make you feel old. You can train yourself to have better balance by practicing it. Yoga classes are great for that, of course. Amelia and I are testing out our yoga Tree Pose,  right, and bending in the wind, as young trees do to weather storms. If you don’t want to be a tree, just practice balancing on one foot while you’re in line at the grocery store or brushing your teeth at the sink. Do it every day on both legs and you’ll be surprised how much better you’ll get at it with practice.

Now the figurative. Too often we go to extremes. We eat too much junk, then decide to starve ourselves in penance. We skip exercise all week because it’s humid and rainy, then go crazy on the weekend and end up with sore muscles or an injury. Balance is better.

That means eating healthy meals and not snacking all day long. You may have heard it’s healthy to eat several smalls meals throughout the day. But studies show that if you never give your digestive system a break, your body may not have time to remove damaged cells and toxic stuff that accumulates. And that can make you more vulnerable to diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Four to six hours between meals is optimal.

Regular exercise is key, too, not just for your body but also for your brain. Just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week for three months increases the part of your brain you use for short-term memory. Yes, regular brisk walks may actually improve your memory! For more details, read our interview with our favorite memory expert and neurologist Majid Fotuhi, M.D. here.

You need to balance your spirit, too. Are you a “doom and gloom” personality type? Studies show that Type D’s, as they’re called, have a higher risk of heart disease and are more likely to die from it, too. You can help yourself become a more relaxed type, like young trees that bend in the wind (see us above, hint, hint!), by practicing yoga or meditation, and getting more exercise, which is guaranteed to lift your spirits.

Woo-hoo to a younger (more balanced) you!

Photo by Cassandra Tucker

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6 Weeks to a Younger You: Week 4

August 31, 2011 at 7:05 am, by Julie Bain

Do you feel younger yet? We’re in week four of our six-week push to a younger you, and we have weighty matters to discuss!

GET A LIFT
In previous weeks, we’ve been challenging ourselves to move more by measuring our steps with a pedometer and getting our heart rate up with some interval training. That’s great, but we’ve got to add in some resistance exercise to keep our bones strong and build lean muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn!

That’s why I keep these six-pound hand weights in my bedroom. I can do my bicep curls and squats while watching how well the new celebs cha-cha and samba on this season’s Dancing With the Stars. (I’ll be rooting for Chaz Bono, and let’s face it: he needs to shape up a little.) Or I can go out on my terrace in the gorgeous morning light and knock out three reps of 10s before the coffee has dripped. Join me! See four easy exercises here.

FILL UP ON PROTEIN
You know when celebrities shape up for an action movie and talk about their regimen? They always say they cut back on carbs and pump up the lean protein. A lot of women normally do the opposite. This week, try to get some protein at every meal. That could be eggs or Greek yogurt for breakfast, a big salad with  chicken or tofu and a sprinkle of cheese for lunch and some lovely grilled fish for dinner, for example. If you’re vegetarian, it can be harder to get enough, so you should pay even more attention to your  intake. Try to eat 120 to 140 grams of protein a day. Here’s a good chart to help you figure out how to get there.

IMPROVE YOUR SHUT-EYE
We’re still cleaning up here in the Northeast from hurricane Irene, and almost everyone I know is sleep deprived right now. You may be, too, even if your weather has been perfect. Most American women don’t get nearly enough shut-eye to keep their brains in good working order. Make it a priority this week. Wind down early, avoid caffeine and alcohol, keep the room cool and dark and aim for at least seven hours. I co-wrote a sleep book just for women (with author Ellen Michaud; you can  buy it here). It’s full of great tips—best book I’ve ever read on the subject!

DO SOME GOOD
Ladies’ Home Journal truly believes in the power of doing good. Turns out, if you help others, it makes you feel younger, too! We have lots of good resources to get you started. Cheers to a younger you!

Photo by Stella Capuano

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6 Weeks to a Younger You: Week 3

August 24, 2011 at 11:28 am, by Julie Bain

How did you do on your week 2 assignments? Did you give meditation a try? Or get your blood pressure checked? Hope you at least put on your sunscreen and took your vitamin D. Those are easy!

But the homework gets harder this week with two assignments that I know I need to work on: getting my heart rate up and eating less sugar.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL
Remember step aerobics classes? I think they went the way of shiny Spandex around the turn of the millennium, but they had the right idea: to get your heart rate up without causing joint pain from pounding the pavement. I kind of miss them. I’m lucky that I live and work in New York City, so I walk a lot—but on a very flat island. I seldom climb anything unless it’s a few stairs out of a subway station, and I don’t often break a sweat, either (except when I’m standing on a broiling subway platform, but that doesn’t count).

To improve your stamina and cardiovascular health, you’ve got to raise your heart rate and get the sweat going, too. New research says you can do this through interval training, meaning short bursts of intense activity combined with longer periods at a more comfortable pace. This is good news! I’m not a gym rat, so I want to find a way to incorporate this into my day. Aha—another urban advantage. I can combine my pedometer-guided walks to and from work with the stairs in my apartment building. I’ll try to zoom up and down the six flights to my apartment at least a couple of times a day. Maybe if I put Olivia Newton-John on my iPod, I can pretend I’m back in aerobics class. Woo! Now what are you going to do to step it up?

STEP AWAY FROM THE CUPCAKE
I think cupcakes have become the bane of American women’s existence. They’re everywhere, in schools, at the office, in the mall—and they’re nearly impossible to resist. Let’s face it, when you have a bad day or are stressed out, you don’t crave broccoli. You want the red velvet cupcake with the cream-cheese icing and the cute sugar daisy on top. Or ice cream, cookies, chocolate-covered caramels and gummy bears. Or maybe chips, crackers and pizza (which are basically sugar, too, at least as far as your metabolism is concerned).

I used to think sugar wasn’t as bad for you as fat, but research is showing it’s actually the other way around. Sugar turns into belly fat, raises your bad cholesterol and leads to heart disease—which still kills more women than anything else. So how do you resist? Here’s what works for me: Don’t eat carbs for breakfast. Start your day with some protein, fat and fiber to kick-start your metabolism, keep you feeling full and help you fend off the sugar cravings later. That means no OJ, fruit, cereal, bagels, pastries, energy bars or toast (save those for later). It doesn’t mean you’re never going to give into the lure of the cute cupcake again (I had a pink one with sprinkles yesterday after the earthquake scare), but it lays the groundwork. You can do the rest!

Here are some of my choices for breakfast: eggs scrambled in a little olive oil or a hard-boiled egg I’ve made the night before, a mozzarella stick and a handful of walnuts, low-fat plain (no honey or fruit purée) Greek yogurt with toasted almonds, even a big spoonful of peanut butter spread on celery sticks. If you have time, an omelet with some spinach and feta cheese would be amazing. Sometimes I’ll even munch on cold crunchy leftover green beans, drizzled with a little extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!

See lots more tips and details of our six-week plan here, and cheers to a younger you!

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