Did you catch that tabloid that exposed the stars without their makeup? Even so, you have to agree, from the neck on down celebrities always look fabulous. Whether appearing in television or films or strutting down the red carpet during movie premiers and awards, they make us wonder why they are so blessed in the looks department. How do they do it?



The truth is, it takes a lot of commitment and money to look the way they do, and being the public figures that they are, they cannot afford to slack off when it comes to taking care of their physical appearances.

Let's be real, the way they look is part of their business. They are a product being marketed so they have to look, well, worth paying the ticket price for. Aside from the clothes on the outside, the hair and the makeup from the neck up, celebrities have to take good care of their bodies. It's a total package from head to Gucci clad feet.

So, what do they know that you don't? It is no surprise that these stars have found their own secrets when it comes to staying fit and gorgeous. Their health agenda can range from extreme workouts to well-planned meals. Would you like to know their secrets in staying absolutely sexy? Here are some of the diet and exercise secrets of seven women celebrities.

1. Jennifer Aniston

The star of the phenomenal television show Friends not only mesmerized audiences with her adorable comic sense and her famous hairstyle, she is also known for having one of the sexiest bodies in Hollywood. She continues to appear on countless magazine covers and in other advertising. To stay trim, Jennifer follows the 40:30:30 diet method. The diet consists of:

40% Low glycemic carbohydrates - Foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables, legumes

30% lean proteins - Tofu, fish, chicken, turkey, beef and low fat dairy products

30% essential fats - nuts and seeds, fish, and olive-based oils

It is essential that every meal should contain macro nutrients to attain the balance of hormones and maximum weight loss. If you don't know what macro nutrients are, do a web search. Suffice to say these are important food groups to add to your diet.

2. Kate Hudson

The gorgeous daughter of actress Goldie Hawn gained 60 pounds during her pregnancy, which she needed to shed quickly before commencing on her next film. From her previous eating plan, she switched to a higher protein diet. She consumed high protein meals in smaller portions, and she combined this diet with an exercise program that includes weight training and cardiovascular workouts. The high protein intake is a trick employed by male weight lifters to shed fat and build muscle.

Her post pregnancy figure garnered some constructive criticism from friends and industry types which may have given her incentive to shed all that baby weight in only four months! In the process she gained rippled abs that is the envy of many in Hollywood and that's just counting the men!

3. Oprah Winfrey

As one of the most successful talk-show hosts in the world, there is no question that Oprah has an ongoing battle to maintain her physical appearance for her millions of fans. It's no secret that Oprah is known as one of those celebrities who are constantly battling weight gain. If you are a regular viewer, you have seen the shift in weight over the years. She has recently toned up her figure and has never looked more fit.

She combines a regular exercise regime with a solid diet plan. Oprah works out five days a week, spending 30 minutes on the treadmill and doing free weights. Her eating plan consists of legumes, fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables, chicken and dairy products that are low-fat. She limits her consumption of white sugar and flour. Oprah also credits her trim figure to her habit of not eating anything after seven in the evening.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow

A lot of people may find it hard to believe that the perpetually slim Academy award-winning actress actually needs to diet. Gwyneth actually follows a healthy eating plan that resembles Oprah's, avoiding sugar and white flour. She usually follows a macrobiotic diet, eating foods like vegetables, brown rice, and lean meat. She also eliminated products containing dairy from her diet, and does yoga every day.

5. Madonna

The pop star known as the Material Girl has always flaunted her body as one of the tools of her business. To stay looking sexy, she has become a true fitness groupie over the years. She keeps herself in tip-top shape by practicing Ashtanga Yoga, and follows a strict diet that mostly shuns junk foods. She adopted a macrobiotic eating plan that includes organic foods rich in lean protein.

6. Claudia Schiffer

The bodacious German super model eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea. No where do we find meat on the menu but that's not to say she doesn't eat meat, fish, or poultry occasionally.

7. Christie Brinkley

Longtime super model Christie Brinkley maintains her all-American good looks by being a vegetarian. She does not keep junk foods of any kind inside her home to avoid being tempted beyond what she can handle. She snacks on sweet potatoes in place of candy bars, and she adopts a liquid juice diet when she needs to slim down fast.

In closing, take heart, celebrities are just like you and me. If you saw them on the street or in the supermarket they obviously wouldn't be looking like they are ready to walk the red carpet at that moment. Chances are you might not even recognize them because you are not expecting them to look average.

Yes, they need to maintain their figures more than anyone else because they are constantly in the public eye but you also can have a celebrity-like body by following the diet and fitness plans of the stars. With the right clothes, hair and makeup, you can look red-carpet worthy too!

Jim DeSantis