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Health and Beauty, Media

The Balancing Act on Lifetime with Jamie Lee Curtis

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The following segment aired on “The Balancing Act” on Lifetime Television. Joining the show was Jamie Lee Curtis to discuss Activia Yogurt.

The Balancing Act: Well, I have to tell you, I love our next guest for a lot of reasons.  She is an international film star with countless hit movies under her belt and the daughter of legendary Hollywood actors, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis.  But millions of people like me are just so inspired by popular Hollywood icon, Jamie Lee Curtis, because she has continued to evolve.  Jamie Lee Curtis joins us this morning to talk healthy tips for busy moms on the go.  Good morning, so good to see you again, Jamie Lee.

Curtis: I love your show, what you offer me and all the people that I know, all the women I know who need it, the tipping scale of our lives and you’re kind of keeping us going.  I love you guys.

The Balancing Act: Well, I have to tell you, we love you right back, my dear. Like I said, it really is true for a number of reasons, Jamie Lee, because you know, you’re very busy in Hollywood, you’ve written nine children’s books, which my kids love, by the way, you’re a mom of two yourself, you’re a spokesperson, how do you balance it all?

Curtis: Well, you’ve said key words. You said the word “evolve” and to me life is nothing but evolution, I mean literally evolution and in our own human lives, our own time, evolving as women, spiritually, emotionally, creatively and physically, and with your physical evolution, is learning about our bodies, diet, exercise.  Obviously all women are trying to figure out that balance, of how much exercise, how much food, how do I balance my diet?  And the new thing that people talk about with me obviously, because I’m here on behalf of Activia, is digestive health.  And, you know, this is not something I ever thought I’d talk about in my life, when I was first talked to by Activia to be their spokesperson, to talk about digestive health and the benefits of probiotics.  I never expected what the response has been, and the response has been thank you.  I am stopped all over the world by people who say thank you for a product that helps them, and that’s as simple as it is.  Activia offers you something and they now have Greek yogurt and French yogurt and a parfait crunch, because I’m a granola, I like the crunch.

The Balancing Act: Me too, I love it.

Curtis: Right, so but they now have three different styles.  They have the kind of creamy French one, they have the more—you know everybody loves Greek yogurt now—so there’s a Greek yogurt style Activia, all with the same benefits and ultimately, I think the combination of a good spiritual health, good mental health, creative health, physical health, digestive health, is the balancing act of our lives and I’m just happy to represent something that actually encourages one aspect to keep you in balance.

The Balancing Act: Well, I have to tell you, you’re one of those people that I know for me and I’m sure millions of people out there feel the very same way, because the thing is, when I see you on TV, I’m like, I want to be her friend, I like her, she’s the real deal.  Why do you think people feel that connection with you?

Curtis: Well, I hope it’s because I tell the truth and that I’m not interested in the subterfuge and the smoke and mirrors of life.  More magazine where I took off my clothes and said, “look, this is what I look like” was my way of saying I’m just like you, I want to relate to you, I want to hear about parenting tips because I’ve got tantruming children, I’ve had children in my face screaming at me, I’ve had marital conflict,  I’ve had parental conflict, I’m human, and I think that digestive health is human and there’s something about the fact that I’m not afraid to talk about it and the fact that I’ve talked about it publicly.  People genuinely want to share their story with me, and think that’s, you know, we just want to relate to each other ultimately.  At the end of the day I think I’ve been able to do that to a degree because I’ve tried to tell the truth.

The Balancing Act: You know what and I think that’s why people believe you when you talk about the topic of digestive health, because it’s something that you’ve become quite well known for and a bit of an expert on.  What do you recommend to others when it comes to their diets?

Curtis: Well, I’m not an expert. I would say look in the mirror, I would say remember that your children are watching every move you make, every bite you put in your mouth—your children are watching you.  We are all trying to balance, obviously, the motto could be eat less, move more—that’s my self-help book I’ll never have to write, that’s the title of it, eat less, move more.  And in the eating less, make sure that you include some sort of probiotic, a lot of water, you know, fruits and vegetables, etc, etc, and avoid white starchy, sugary foods and exercise and keep good mental health, good spiritual health and, what would we call it, the partying health.  Be very mindful about your partying health because it has huge effect on your life.

The Balancing Act: It absolutely does, you’re absolutely right on that one.

Curtis: Go on.

The Balancing Act: No, we appreciate you, you go on.

Curtis: No, you’re going to send me away?

The Balancing Act: No, no, no, they told me seven minutes.  I’m just trying to stick to my timeline but I really could talk to you all morning long.

Curtis: Oh, I like “The Balancing Act,” it’s all I do all day.

The Balancing Act: Well, I have to tell you, we love you, too.  Thank you so much and where can we go for more information on digestive health?

Curtis: Obviously, for digestive health, activia.com, they have all the information, jamieleecurtis.com has book information and, you know, life.com I’m sure will offer you.  I don’t even think there is a site, wouldn’t be great.

The Balancing Act: I think you better grab that url, my dear.

Curtis: Something tells somebody already did.  Anyway, you guys do a great job, people love you, keep doing your good work.

The Balancing Act: Well, thank you so much and you too.  I can’t wait to talk to you again.

Curtis: I’m sure will and then maybe next year and the next book.

The Balancing Act: Well, sounds good, thank you again so much.

Curtis: Peace and love.

The Balancing Act: Cannot wait to see you again, bye, bye.

The Balancing Act is the only morning show in America produced by women specifically for women. Every morning, The Balancing Act on Lifetime hosts Danielle Knox and Kristy Villa tackle the issues that face today’s woman. Popular show segments include live weather updates with Mark Mancuso, surprise celebrity visitors, and news about the latest trends affecting your life, home, career and family. The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television airs daily on Lifetime at 7 a.m. ET/PT. For more information, visit The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television’s website at www.thebalancingact.com.

Health and Beauty, Lifestyle, Media

The Balancing Act on Lifetime with Dr. Leslie Zebel

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The following segment aired on The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television. Joining the show was licensed mental-health counselor, Dr. Leslie Zebel, to discuss what is needed for healthy relationships and what is needed to be left behind in past relationships.

The Balancing Act Lifetime Host Beth Troutman:  We’re always welcoming relationship advice that we can all benefit from whether we’re in one or we’re looking for one. Dr. Leslie Zebel is a licensed mental-health counselor and is joining us on The Balancing Act to talk about the things that you need in order to have a healthy relationship. Leslie, what are we looking for when it comes to a healthy relationship? What should we strive for in order for the relationship to succeed?

Leslie: The first thing I would think about is, what is your attitude about relationships? Most people just think that they’re one destructive disaster after another and they get upset because they don’t turn into marriage or they don’t turn into an engagement.  You should look at relationships like a learning experience and use that to learn, grow and have fun.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: If someone seems to be having the same type or failed relationship, what would your advice to them be? Is it about them or the person that they are choosing? Please tell The Balancing Act viewers what the real issue tends to be.

Leslie: It is about them and there is a reason why they are choosing the people they are with.  A lot of times all of us will repeat emotional patterns. If you’re doing that then the same feelings are going to carry over to the next relationship and you have to look at why you keep doing that to yourself.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: It seems that the emotional pattern is what really has to change. If we don’t change the type of person we choose then we have no hope of finding a healthier relationship than the last.  I know that a lot of this pattern is unconscious and we have to understand that as well.

Leslie: It’s very unconscious and I am sure some of The Balancing Act viewers are aware of this unconscious emotional pattern.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: There’s an underlying issue that needs to be brought to the surface and dealt with. People seem to carry their issues from one relationship to the other, so how do we change those patterns?

Leslie: People do carry their emotional baggage with them and they also find that they’re communicating in similar ways in these new relationships. They find themselves in similar destructive patterns that they’re finding themselves either being criticized or they’re feeling like a victim in relationships, they’re feeling judged and losing themselves. When that starts to happen, its lack of skills on their part and their partner’s part.  Both partners need to have very good, healthy communication skills that are kind and caring which makes each person feel good about themselves.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: What else should we be striving for? How do we work toward getting to that place? What are the things that we should focus on?

Leslie: I think that you need to focus on getting yourself as healthy as possible. If you go into a relationship depressed, you’re just going to have a depressed relationship. If you work on being the best you can be, sharpening your communication skills and your conflict resolution skills, then you will learn how to feel good about yourself.  Then you are going to have better relationships and you are going to choose people who have those similar parts in themselves.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television: How big of an issue is forgiveness and how do we know when to forgive and when to walk away?

Leslie: Forgiveness is learned and a lot of times we do exactly what we saw our parents do.  Forgiveness is a day-to-day thing that involved the little things and the big things in life.  To forgive is to make the choice that you want to and it is a process.  Working through the sadness and disappointment and being able to put it behind you and not bring it up in another relationship and clobber your partner with it.

The Balancing Act Lifetime Television: Thank you so much for sharing so much important information with The Balancing Act viewers and family.

The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television is the only morning show in America produced by women specifically for women. Every morning, The Balancing Act on Lifetime hosts Danielle Knox and Kristy Villa tackle the issues that face today’s woman. Popular show segments include Live weather updates with Mark Mancuso, surprise celebrity visitors, and news about the latest trends affecting your life, home, career and family. The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television airs daily on Lifetime at 7 a.m. ET/PT. For more information, visit The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television’s website at www.thebalancingact.com.

Lifestyle, Media

BrandStar Entertainment’s The Balancing Act with Lisa Dorfman and Chef Ozzie

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The following segment originally aired on the January 26th, 2011 show on BrandStar Entertainment’s morning TV show, The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television.  The featured guests were Nutritionist Lisa Dorfman and Chef Ozzie from Heartland Sweeteners.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: It’s the New Year and that means that you get a “clean slate.”  You can start all over and maybe do thing a little differently in 2011.  One thing that many of us in this country need to change is our eating habits.  Putting the right foods in our bodies and cutting out the wrong stuff with not only help us look great for the New Year, but it will also make us FEEL great.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: BrandStar Entertainment’s popular “New Year- New You” series on The Balancing Act on Lifetime is going to help clear up any confusing details about our food with Nutritionist, Lisa Dorfman and we’ll get some fabulous recipes to get us on track to staying healthy in the New Year from Chef Ozzie from Heartland Sweeteners.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: Lisa, there’s so much info out there when it comes to some of the bad things we could put into our bodies.  Fats confuse everybody, so let’s start with the bad fats.

Lisa: The bad fats as we know them are the hard fats at room temperature.  Things like butter and lard not only put on pounds, but also can clog our arteries and increase our blood pressure.  They’re just not generally good for our health.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: What about the bad fat category called—trans fats?

Lisa: I call the trans fats the Frankenstein of fats because they were created in a lab a couple of decades ago when companies wanted to pull out the cholesterol and the animal fats from their products.  What happened was they put in some oils, but the oils didn’t hold at room temperature.  So, they added back and made them more saturated again—creating these trans fats.  These trans fats are worse than any of the saturated fats on the market.  At a very quick rate, they build up cholesterol in our bloodstream, bring up our blood pressure and cause all kinds of metabolic and health problems for everyone—young and old.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: That’s what we don’t want—but we do need some GOOD fats in our system, right?

Lisa: Yes.  We do need fats in our diet.  Fats help us to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins “A” and “D.”   “E” and “K” help us to prevent inflammation.  The good fats, known as the Omega-3s and the Omega-6s are essential fats that are found in vegetable oils and olive oils, are good for our health so we do want to include them in our diet.  We have some commercially prepared products now that contain a lot of those good fats.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: So, keep a smart balance but don’t overdo it?

Lisa: There is definitely too much.  On a 2-thousand calorie diet, most people don’t realize they only need between 44 and 66 grams of fat a day.  Like, when you go to those restaurants and you’re dipping away with the bread and oil—each tablespoon of olive oil has 14-grams of fat so that adds up very quickly.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: Let’s talk about Fat-Free.  Is that something that’s still important?

Lisa: Ok, if low fat is good for you—then let’s take out all the fat.  But, what happens is then there’s no taste.  So, what companies started doing was adding in a lot of sugar and other ingredients as well as processing.  It’s these things that created a lot more health problems and cravings.  You know, people don’t eat one cookie these days.  They eat a BOX!  So, it’s a huge problem.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: Chef Ozzie, you’re the guy who knows how to replace the sugar in these things.  So, let’s talk about Ideal No-Calorie Sweetener!

Chef Ozzie: Ideal is the best no-calorie sweetener on the market.  It’s made from Xylitol, which has added health benefits.  What’s unique about it is that you can bake and cook with it.  It’s wonderful and your guest would never know that you did NOT use real sugar.  In independent taste tests, consumer actually picked it over sugar!

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: You’ve brought some great tasting things along with you.  Let’s talk about what you’ve replaced to make yummy pumpkin bread.

Chef Ozzie: This pumpkin bread is absolutely most and flavorful.  You put this on a table and no one would ever know that it’s actually GOOD for you and made WITHOUT sugar!  I made it with Ideal and I’ve also taken out the eggs and used egg substitute—so we’ve gotten rid of some of those fats.

Chef Ozzie: We’re also using alternative spreads.  You can use a 50/50 blend, or you can use a straight commercially prepared.  These new spreads out there are fabulous and you don’t even know they’re in the mix.  So, you can save not only the sugars and the calories from the sugars—but you’re saving all the extra fats too that you don’t need.  This pumpkin bread saves you 25-grams of sugar and 70-calories per slice.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: So, you’re not sacrificing any flavor, sweetness or ANY taste at all! Now let’s move on to that delicious looking chocolate cake!

Chef Ozzie: This is a no-dairy chocolate cake.  When I say, “No Dairy,” it’s actually healthy, moist and decadent!  In this cake we’re saving 44-grams of sugar and 100-calories.  Per slice!  We’re taking the fats out.  There’s no dairy in the cake, so there’s no eggs or butter.  I’m using other ingredients in there.

Chef Ozzie: All these recipes are in my cookbook and I personally like to use a lot of these different alternatives.  A butter alternative instead of butter—or you can do a 50/50.

Chef Ozzie: I like to use olive oil but NOT the extra virgin because of the very strong flavor.  I use just plain olive oils in the recipes, like canola and vegetable oils in lieu of some of the fats in there.  For example these muffins have a low-fat yogurt, a butter substitute, Ideal sweetener and oils.  So, I’m taking the fats out.

Chef Ozzie: In the cookbook I’ve really taken the sugar out of all the recipes, but these are all great tips that you’re not going to sacrifice a lot of the flavor.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: It’s time to move on to the muffins!  They look like raspberry?

Chef Ozzie: These are lemon-raspberry muffins.  We’re using fresh raspberries and fresh lemon.  I just like to use all fresh ingredients, even fresh pumpkin seeds on the pumpkin bread.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: What about these cookies?

Chef Ozzie: These are oatmeal raisin.  I once again used the spread and great raisins.  These are traditional favorites—people love them.  A lot of kids love chocolate chip, but I really like these.  It’s good and healthy.  You have the oats and you’re using the spread instead of butter.  It’s a really good cookie and you’re not sacrificing flavor or sweetness with our product—Ideal.

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: Chef Ozzie, you’re getting people ready for the New Year because you can still have delicious food and you’re saving yourself so many calories and sugar– a perfect way to get on track for the New Year!

BrandStar Entertainment – The Balancing Act on Lifetime: If you would like more information on Ideal No-Calorie Sweetener, visit idealsweet.com.  To check out more tasty and sugar-free recipes, check out Chef Ozzie’s Cookbook, “Sweet Revolution.”

The award-winning television production team at BrandStar Entertainment is one of the industry’s leaders.  BrandStar Entertainment features a full array of creative services that include distribution, sound stages and production/post production facilities. BrandStar Entertainment is known for producing content driven shows like The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television, the only morning show in America produced by women specifically for women. BrandStar proudly carries a WomenCertified® Seal, demonstrating leadership in women friendly programming. BrandStar Entertainment’s The Balancing Act airs daily on Lifetime at 7 a.m. ET/PT. For more information, visit BrandStar Entertainment’s website for The Balancing Act at www.thebalancingact.com.