We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar! When Cheryl Forberg – registered dietitian, James Beard award-winning chef, and creator of The Biggest Loser meal plan – signed onto the show for its first season, she was shocked at the contestants’ states of health. “Most of what I did was not on camera; at the beginning of every season, the applicant pool was huge. Season five alone had 220,000 applicants. Once we weeded applicants out down to about 75, we could start doing physical tests while I met with them to talk about eating habits and their weight loss and weight gain tendencies,” she said. “The first season was shocking to hear their eating habits, but after a few seasons, I realized I was hearing the same thing over and over again.” Read below as Forberg shares her experiences with The Biggest Loser , the nutrition factors she used to make the meal plan, and a healthy spread you can make easily at home. What were you most surprised to discover about with the diets of the past contestants on The Biggest Loser ? I found all the contestants had things in common, like the belief that skipping meals promotes weight loss, drinking too many calories, having too much processed fast food, not eating very many fruits and vegetables, little to no water consumption, not eating enough whole grains, and forgetting to plan ahead. Everybody had a different combination of one these things, but what they all had in common was prioritizing their family, work, or something else over themselves. They needed to put their head in the game and get healthy so that they could be around to take care of the people and things they loved. They needed to start taking care of themselves. More healthy eating tips after the break.

By Julie As the first week of the Feel Great Weight program kicked off I felt a lot of excitement, but I definitely was feeling the pressure to succeed. When I received the notice that I had been chosen as a participant I was elated—like I had won the lottery. But as we went through the motions of the meetings, photo shoot, and phone interviews, the realization was clear that now it was time to get serious. All those good intentions I had to lose weight in the past held no accountability other than to myself. If I failed I only disappointed myself. But now I had a tribe of people counting on me to succeed. Am I really ready? You betcha. Meeting with Marissa to go over the eating plan heightened my awareness about food. I’ve been a chronic snacker my whole life and portion sizes have always been a weakness to keep reigned in. The upside is that we tend to eat pretty healthy, and since I am the mom of a toddler and stepmom of a ‘tween, I spend a LOT of time reading food labels. Marissa applauded the fact that we don’t have a microwave (that keeps packaged and processed foods to a minimum), and we are lucky to live just a block from our local farmer’s market. But both my toddler and stepson are extremely picky eaters, so meal times are going to be a real challenge for me. And I guess I’ll have to find a more healthy substitute for our pancake and bacon weekend breakfasts! My physical assessment yielded some interesting surprises, one being the fact that I managed to do 8 full push-ups! But seeing my body fat in real numbers was startling. My trainer, Justo ,was upfront about his high expectations of me, so I have some hard (but rewarding) work ahead. At least I didn’t suffer too much soreness this week. On to week two!

MIAMI (CBS4) – It’s a sleep lab that comes to you. It’s a device you wear at night to decode the mystery and find out if you have sleep apnea. An increasing number of women are trying this device because doctors are learning that, unlike men, with snoring and abruptly gasping for air in the middle of the night… the signs for women may be being tired, have insomnia, morning headaches or a whole lot of moodiness. More and more women are being diagnosed with sleep apnea, meaning they can’t sleep through the night because they repeatedly stop breathing. Christy Hartsook is one of those women. “I would wake up between 4 and 5 times an hour that I was not aware of.” Hartsook of Palmetto Bay was not getting enough oxygen. She told CBS4′s Cynthia Demos that it wasn’t just a problem for her. Her interrupted sleep started disrupting her husband’s sleep as well. “He would say, how did you sleep last night? Did you sleep good… cause I didn’t,” said Hartsook. For Eduardo Borrego in Coral Gables, he had to get a sleep test before his gastric bypass surgery. He was tested for sleep apnea. “Now I know for sure that I have it,” said Borrego. Two people. Same problem. Same test. But in the end, different remedies. First… the test… the In Home Sleep Lab. It’s called the Watermark ARES, which stands for Apnea Risk Evaluation System. They put the ARES on, turn it on, sleep with it, turn it off in the morning and send it to the lab. Jeffery Rosen is a family physician. “It’s much more convenient and less obstructive to the patient’s life.” Dr. Rosen says they read the results and come up with a new sleep plan for the patient. He says women are often misdiagnosed with depression when they really have apnea. If it goes untreated, it can lead to serious weight gain. Rosen said the in home testing helps tremendously because 40% of the time that people are suppose to go to a sleep lab, they just don’t show up. And 20-million people have sleep apnea. But right now, less than 15% are diagnosed. Sleep apnea can have serious consequences. It is directly connected to diabetes, obesity, congestive heart failure, hypertension and stroke. It’s a sign that a bigger problem is likely around the corner. That’s why Christy and Eduardo were so glad to find out how they could stop the apnea. The two had very different doctors orders. For Eduardo, the doctor prescribed this sleep machine. It pumps in oxygen as he sleeps. It’s called a C-PAP. That stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It keeps your airway open while you’re sleeping. “You feel better, more energized, like you actually slept.” Eduardo hopes that after his gastric surgery, he will no longer have sleep apnea. His doctor said there’s a chance that could happen. For Christy, she was told she just can’t sleep on her back anymore. She says as long as she sleeps on her side, she has a restful night and so does her husband. “Yeah, I’m extremely happy I did this test,” Christy told Demos. Of the 81 sleep breathing disorders out there… 85% of the time, people are diagnosed with apnea… that is if they take the time to get tested. And yes… this device is covered by insurance.

J&J Settles With Texas: Johnson & Johnson said it would pay $158 million to settle claims by Texas that the company promoted its antipsychotic drug Risperdal for unapproved uses, resulting in overcharges to the state’s Medicaid program, the WSJ reports . J&J said the settlement, to be paid to a plaintiff who filed a whistleblower suit and his attorneys, the state of Texas and the U.S. government, “will circumvent potentially and costly appellate activities.” Analyzing Autism’s Definition: An analysis presented at a scientific meeting suggests that changes proposed to the definition of autism would reduce the number of people diagnosed with the disorder enough to effectively end the sharp increase in cases, the New York Times reports . Still, experts working on the new definition — which will appear in the forthcoming update of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — say the new estimates of the changes’ impact are overblown and that previous analyses showed fewer people would be excluded. Pulling Sprouts: Winn-Dixie Stores said it is voluntarily pulling some Leasa brand broccoli, gourmet, spicy and onion sprouts from all of its retail grocery stores on fears the sprouts may be contaminated with salmonella, the WSJ reports . The company says it hasn’t received any reports of illness linked to the sprouts but is nonetheless recalling sprouts sold from Jan. 7 to Jan. 18, with expiration dates between Feb. 1 and March 15, the paper says. Mental Health Survey: New government statistics suggest that about 20% of U.S. adults suffer a form of mental illness every year, with less than half getting treatment, the Washington Post reports . Drug and alcohol problems weren’t considered mental illnesses for the purposes of the survey, which also found that 5% of American adults experience a serious mental disorder every year, only 60% of whom receive treatment. Image: iStockphoto

Zumba classes are popping up everywhere these days, so you’re bound to have someone on your holiday list who’s obsessed with the contagious and seductive Latin beats and sexy dance moves. Here are some fun and inspirational gift ideas for the Zumba lover in your life. View Slideshow ›

Too embarrassed to ask your doctor about sex, body quirks, or the latest celeb health fad? In a regular feature and a new book, " What the Yuck?! ," Health magazine medical editor Dr. Roshini Raj tackles your most personal and provocative questions. Send 'em to Dr. Raj at whattheyuck@health.com. Q: Every time I hear about a deadly Listeria outbreak, I wonder: How do I tell the difference between harmless food poisoning and the life-threatening kind? While a bout of food poisoning totally sucks, most of the time the vomiting, diarrhea, aches and fever will go away on their own in a couple of days. But in rare situations, a more virulent pathogen – such as certain strains of E. coli bacteria that produce a poison called Shiga toxin – can lead to severe, life-threatening dehydration or kidney failure. If you have diarrhea along with a fever of 101 degrees or higher; if you feel very thirsty, dizzy, or light-headed; or if you have diarrhea that persists for more than three days, see a doctor. Head straight to the ER if you have a lot of blood in your stool or a pounding or skipping heart, or if you think you got sick from eating poisonous mushrooms, bad shellfish, or a contaminated canned item (toxins from these foods can have especially serious consequences).

When you find a preworkout snack that gives you energy without causing digestive upset or cramps, you’ve got a winner. A simple banana has always treated me right before exercising, and here’s a way to add an exciting little twist. It’s a perfect snack because the banana offers easily digestible carbs, the almond butter boosts the protein content, and the shredded coconut adds iron, vitamin C, and an assortment of B vitamins. The fat in coconut also works like olive oil in that it can help lower the HDL (bad) cholesterol levels and raise the LDL (good) levels. And the cocoa, well, according to a new study, it may help you perform better when working out . Keep reading to find out how to make this healthy snack that’s under 180 calories.

If you work out often, you might have experienced the itching and burning sensation caused by athlete’s foot . A fungus-caused infection that can show up in between toes or heels of the feet, athlete’s foot is very common and reoccurring, especially if you sweat a lot and wear closed-toed shoes often. Here are eight things you can do to prevent and treat an itchy case of athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is contagious, so avoid sharing or borrowing socks, shoes, or stockings. Always wear flip-flops while walking around the locker room, pool, or when showering at the gym. Wash your feet every day with an antibacterial soap, and be sure to dry your toes thoroughly. Excess moisture between your toes can cause athlete’s foot. Change into clean socks every day, and alternate the shoes you wear throughout the week so they have time to dry out completely before you wear them again. Read more about athlete’s foot care.

Alison Sweeney works out in the park sporting Lucy and Puma – Fit Celeb It’s what’s for dinner: penne with turkey sausage, tomatoes, and arugula – That’s Fit.ca No gym required: seven surefire ways to slim down – Daily Spark The Biggest Loser - and the winner is . . . – Fit Bottomed Girls Give 10, get toned – Health Mama Mia! Low-carb pasta alternatives – Blisstree

From nachos and hot dogs, to chili cheese fries and sodas, we’ve learned that our favorite ballpark treats aren’t exactly the healthiest snacks to indulge in. But who can forget about the condiments that we have to slather all over certain ballpark delicacies? It’s time to test their caloric breakdown! Source: Flickr User permanently scatterbrained Take the quiz