French Women DO Get Fat, says study

There is a constant conversation in America about the eating habits of the Europeans and how they stay slim. I started to question this during the summer when I was in Greece--I saw so many overweight women compared to years past and it was surprising for a country that relishes being ultra thin (even worse, EVERYONE, literally, everyone, wears a bikini, no matter what size--I was the only one in a one piece, along with the other grandmas). But now it seems like Europe may be facing an obesity problem too...

In findings released today, researchers found that 15.1% of French women are obese while 26% of French women are overweight. The study, conducted by the TNS Sofres Healthcare and Swiss pharmaceuticals company Roche, shows that the French aren't immune to gaining weight in their country of wine and cheese [Reuters]. They found that the average French person has put on 6.8 pounds and 1.85 inches to their waist.

What's interesting is that they find the culprit to be the urban lifestyle. You'd think that walking in a city would be a way to thing but one of the researchers, Doctor Marie-Aline Charles, said, "Obesity rates have really risen sharply in urban areas where there's a concentration of sedentary jobs, public transport, less need to walk and a much greater availability of food."

But they still can't beat the Red, White and Blue. These obesity rates in France match the rates of the US in the 1970's. But even so, maybe the author of "French Women Don't Get Fat" should reconisder their platform. It seems like ALL of us have to take it easy on the crepes.

Real French women really do get fat: study [Reuters]

Rodarte for Target First, Rodarte Plus-Size Line Next...[we hope]

Kate and Laura Mulleavy are the two designers behind the high-end fashion line, Rodarte, a line prized for its futuristic designs. When I read about Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte winning the CFDA award (the Oscar's of fashion) for Womenswear Designer of the Year, I had a thought. Kate and Laura Mulleavy are both women that look normal. We see that real women can be a part of fashion--but behind the scenes. Their Spring 2010 collection from NY Fashion Week in September was perfection but I couldn't help but think of what they could create for a curvy women.

But they are taking a step in the right direction--The Cut just featured a sneak peek of their Target line (we love Target and love that designers design for them). But I'm hoping for a step further--how about a chic, plus-size line, ladies? I think it would be fabulous to design couture designs for the bigger woman (Kate and Laura could even wear their own designs to events). Would you buy Rodarte if they were to show up in Avenue, Lane Bryant, Torrid or Evans? I know I would. But either way, kudos to you both for joining the wave of fantastic designers bringing their talent to Target. We appreciate YOU.

To see Rodarte's Spring 2010 collection, click HERE.

Finally, Clear Images of Rodarte's Target Line Surface [The Cut]

Carolina Herrera for Target? Yes, Please!

Don't you just love when the ultra-elegant designers (the ones that you hear about on the Red Carpet or in glossy magazines post-Oscar and Golden Globes) design for the masses at Target? It's a little exciting, especially since the 'masses' usually equals sizes over the 2 or 4. Carolina Herrera may be the next up. When editors for The Cut asked the daring question to Carolina Herrera, "Would you design a line for Target," the fashion princess said, "If they asked me, of course!" (she's pictured to the left...wouldn't you want to buy clothes from this white-suited fashionista?)

This reminds me of Isaac Mizrahi's line at Target--affordable, sassy clothes that fit the Target shopper. I bought two dresses--both in size 16--from his line and they are two of my favorite dresses. I recently heard Mizrahi speak at the 92Y in a fashion panel, "The Future of Women's Fashion" along with Editor-in-Chief of Glamour, Cindi Leive, designer Ashley Olsen and Washington Post fashion writer, Robin Givhan. Mizrahi told the audience how one of his clients refused to buy anymore of his high-end clothing after he started to design a line for Target. And he was OK with it. "If they don't like what I'm doing, then they are not my type of client," said Mizrahi.

I'm loving this move among the celebrity designers to design for all of us. They are so talented and we all love their work but most of us don't have the price tag for their couture creations. But I'll splurge on a cute $39.99 dress from Herrera's (hopefully) future Target line any day.

Check out more of Herrera's styles HERE.

Carolina Herrera wants to do a Target line [The Cut]

Team Buck: Getting Healthy, Step by Step!

We completed a 5k...as a family!Yesterday, we ran/walked the Princeton Family YMCA "Conquer the 5ks" 5k at the Educational Testing Services in Princeton, NJ. It was such an exciting day for all of us--I ordered t-shirts for the group so that we can be a team. We used a family joke to inspire our team name--TEAM BUCK. We got there at 9 a.m. and got our personalized bibs to pin to our t-shirts (we also got time chips to tie to our shoes--so serious). It was pretty chilly out so we bundled up and got ready to run (or walk) like the wind. They had a nice breakfast spread laid out for the participants (I'm pretty sure they were for post-race eating) but since a big part of the team was walking, we indulged in cereal, bagels, fruit and juice. And we were the only ones eating. Naturally.

We all started walking towards the starting line, ready to run this race. I wasn't sure if I was going to run or walk but the excitement of race day got my adrenaline pumpin' and I decided to run. Though we were all part of Team Buck, everyone ran/walked at their own pace so we were representing throughout the whole race. When I started running, I actually thought I was going to run the whole race on my own (scary thought). A mile into the race, I saw Team Buck shirts up ahead and it was my girls, MT and PP. PP got a little cramp so they stopped running but when I caught up, we all started to run together. The other half of the team came from behind with a brisk walk. We all crossed the finish line and it was the greatest feeling (It was actually a little emotional for me). We went inside for the awards ceremony (we were the life of the party) where three of our team members placed in their respective age groups! There were raffle prizes too and extra food left over so we really got so much out of this race. We all went to Winberie's in Princeton for a post-race lunch to round out this milestone that we all completed.

The whole point of the 5k was to shape up and I'm pretty sure we did just that! When we decided to do this back in September, a few of the cousins started walking in their local parks or at the gym. Now, everyone is moving and we hope that this will only lead to a healthier lifestyle for all of us! You can set up a family 5k race for you and your family and friends too! Just go to Active.com and search for a 5k in your area. Send out a Facebook event and let your friends know about it. Getting healthy is contagious....

Check out pictures below of our race-day wonderfulness. Gkionis, Rotsides & Co. shaped up and we had a wonderful time doing it! Can't wait until the next one!

Put down the Diet Pep.

We've heard that the artificial sweetener in diet soda may not be the best choice but for some reason, everyone keeps chugging diet soda. For me, a crisp diet pep or diet coke is just what I need during my lunch break at work. But it turns out that drinking more than two diet beverages a day can lead to more health problems when it comes to your kidneys. Researchers of the American Society of Nephrology (kidney experts) reported at their annual meeting in San Diego that drinking two or more artificially sweetened drinks can lead to a 30% decline in kidney function. Featured on WebMd, researcher Julie Lin, MD said that "30% is significant since most study participants had well-preserved kidney function at the start of the study."

The researchers analyzed questionnaires from 3,000+ women (with a median age of 67). When they compared kidney function of women who completed the questionnaire in 1989 to the women who completed it in 2000, they found that 11% of the women had declining kidney function. And they found one common thread--these women drank two or more artificially sweetened beverages each day.

The Society says that 20 million Americans have some form of chronic kidney disease (wowzas). But researchers say that these findings were reported at an annual meeting so don't think that diet soda is directly linked to kidney disease. More research has to go into the study but they suggest that it may be a wise choice to cut down on the artificially sweetened goodness called Diet Coke.

Gkionis, Rotsides & Co Shape Up! this Saturday!

After months of talking about the 5k, 16 of us, including family and friends are walking/running this Saturday at the Princeton YMCA 5k in Princeton, NJ to fight obesity. We've all been making moves in our own way to prepare for the 5k. Some of us walk at the park, some of us are waking up at 6 a.m. to run at the gym, some us are..err...mentally preparing. I personally can't exercise everyday since I work and commute. Instead, I think of other ways to exercise: like take a speedy walk during my lunch break or take all the stairs (instead of the escalator) in Port Authority. Or I pretend like I'm the family in Home Alone when they are running to catch their airplane--I need to catch that bus home so I run from Times Square to Port Authority just to make sure that I have the endurance to successfully run through the subway.

The point is, even if we walk or run, we'll all cross the finish line on Saturday. We've all been making moves so now we're going to do it together, as a family.

Stay tuned for my post-race blog and pictures this weekend! I ordered great shirts that we're all going to sport. The weather is supposed to be in the 60's too. It rained during my last two 5k's so I'm hoping to catch some rays this weekend. Wish me (rather, US) luck!