Summer without a barbecue? That would easily fall under the definition of “a cruel and unusual punishment,” which of course no human being should go through.

But the burgers, ribs and fixings that taste so delicious when cooked outdoors can send a diet up in flames.

Do not believe me? Consider the following:

In fact, a typical meal – think four barbecued pork ribs, a square of corn bread, ¼ cup of cole slaw, half a cob of buttered corn, a slice of watermelon and a 16-ounce beer – contains roughly 1,000 calories and 50 grams of fat. And that’s without seconds. (more…)

Kim Lyons‘ biggest diet downfall? “My biggest downfall is a good old-fashioned hamburger and fries,â€? says Kim. “So many people think I’m just genetically fit,” says Lyons, 34.

Her response? To show pictures from her college days. “In college I gained probably about 5 or 10 lbs. every year,” she says. (more…)

We know that a high-quality chocolate is very nutritious and is very good for your health. We also know that chocolate comes in all shapes and sizes, but this has to be a joke, right? I really hope it is, because the chocolate anus cannot be real, can it? (more…)

Very sad news about Ted Kennedy’s health condition. Contrary to earlier reports, he did not have a stroke. Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a brain cancer. Yep, Ted Kennedy has a brain tumor, which is one of the worst cancers out there. (more…)

Switching to whole grains can melt away your belly fat. Penn State researchers compared two groups of overweight dieters: One group swapped white bread and pasta for whole-wheat products, while the other ate the same number of calories as the first group but did not make the switch.

Although all the dieters lost about 10 pounds in 3 months, the whole-grain eaters dropped twice as much belly fat.

The study authors credit the extra fiber and antioxidants in whole grains, which help control inflammation and insulin (a hormone that tells your body to store belly fat). (more…)

Clay Aiken’s weight loss is real, he has lost a lot of weight, but his dog “got fat” in the process. For realz! Clay admits that after losing “a ton” of weight when he stopped taking the antidepressant Paxil, he made sure his border terrier did the same.

“Raleigh got fat and had to go to fat camp,” says Aiken. His dog is on a strict diet now.

Clay Aiken’s dog diet “She doesn’t get spoiled at all,” he says. “She gets half a cup [of food] in the morning and half a cup at night, and begs the rest of the day.” While he’s on Broadway, Clay has left his pets in his native North Carolina. (more…)

UV Sol Beads are pretty cool. Why? Because you will never have another excuse for staying under the sun without proper protection for too much time. You hang UV Sol Beads on your wrist or purse and when they are exposed to UV rays, they change color. (more…)

New diet dishes and flatware promise to make weight loss easier. But do some serve up self-hate instead?

The Diet Fork This sporklike utensil, Diet Fork, features tiny prongs that fit less food in every bite, forcing you to pace yourself. Coincidentally, a study from the University of Rhode Island at Kingston found eating slowly can help you consume less and enjoy your food more.

A fork that ups the yum factor for every meal while preventing overeating? That is cool! But would you ever use the Diet Fork? Are you going to carry the Diet Fork with you when you go out to eat? Probably not.

Personalized plate Customize your plate with a diet motto; write your own or select one of the sometimes shocking prefab versions “No seconds, fat ass” – hey, whatever works for you, but I think this one is a little mean. (more…)