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Season 14 of The Biggest Loser premiered last weekend, featuring three teenagers for the first time ever, and critics are in an uproar. There’s so much controversy surrounding the decision to include teens on the show, and I’m finding myself kind of angry about the criticism.

Why is it so bad that there’s a show helping obese teens lose weight? It’s not like they have 100-pound cheerleaders competing. These are actual obese teens who can’t do normal teen things because they’re so overweight. These are teens who want to change their lifestyles.

Critics of the choice are saying that having teens on the show presents a confusing message and perpetuates body image issues. Huffington Post Teen Associate Editor Carolyn Gregoire said:

“You see adults on the show who are running until they fall, until they’re vomiting, and they’re being yelled at. We don’t want to be sending that message to a vulnerable young person who can be very triggered by seeing this kind of activity. I don’t think that shame and creating a fat-phobic culture is a motivating way to tell people they need to be healthy.”

It appears that most of the critics haven’t even seen the show. The teens aren’t doing the same tasks as the adults. The kids don’t even participate in weigh-ins, and they don’t get eliminated. Longtime trainer Bob Harper says:

“With the kids, we wanted to do exactly the opposite of when we work with the adults. We do no breaking down, just lifting up … It’s about getting kids to move around again and getting kids to be kids.“

Isn’t this better than shows like Teen Mom and 16 And Pregnant? I know those shows are controversial on their own, but why is there so much backlash about kids getting healthy? This theory that all teens who watch the show will get body dysmorphic disorder and become fat-phobic is absurd. I think if anything, seeing obese teens get their lives back will be inspiring and helpful.

Surely there are obese teens watching that will aim to make changes in their lives. I don’t think this is going to send teens into an eating-disorder frenzy. The show never encourages contestants to starve themselves. It encourages healthy ways to lose weight, healthy workouts, healthy everything.

It’s also kind of insulting to the teen population that these critics think so little of their intelligence. Y’all are smart. You’re not going to think you’re fat simply because three teens on a show are working out and losing weight to you know, not be obese anymore.

I think having teens on The Biggest Loser is great. I hope these teens have so much success on the show that producers decide to have an all-teen series.

What do you think about there being teen contestants? Do you think it will help other overweight teens? Do you think it will be harmful? Tell me what you think in the comments!

Since we’re talking about weight, Facebook could be the culprit for those extra pounds!

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One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. In fact, the goal to lose weight isn’t only popular during the beginning of a new year – it’s something people are constantly talking about. It seems like everyone is always scrambling to find the newest and fastest solution way to drop a few pounds. But here’s the thing: dieting is hard.

So if you’ve ever found yourself in that situation, we’ve got a tip you’re probably going to love. You don’t need to go on a serious diet – you just need to start chewing your food for longer! Previous studies have found that chewing your food for 30 seconds or longer helps you eat less and get full faster, and now new research has come out that says that chewing your food for 30 seconds helps curb your appetite later in the day. Basically, it means you’ll be snacking less.

Think about it: do you ever put any thought into how long you’re munching on your dinner? Probably not… I know I don’t. But consider all of the times you’ve scarfed down a full plate of food and then somehow still felt hungry soon ever. It’s most likely because you’re eating too fast.

So here’s how to implement this into your everyday life if you’re looking to lose a few pounds: eat slower. It’s as simple as that. I’m not going to encourage you guys to go on some crazy diet or anything like that – what you do with your body is your business. But this tip sounds like a relatively easy way to start eating a little bit healthier. And if it helps you get to your goal weight? That’s cool too.

Eating slower will keep you full for longer and help you eat less. When you’re more focused on what you’re eating and you really think about what you’re chowing down on, you’re less likely to eat a ton of it. That’s why we’re always told not to eat in front of the television – it distracts us too much. If you want to try this out, do it during your next meal. I’m not saying you should sit there and count until 30 for every bite of food you chew. That would be weird. But just tell yourself to eat slower by chewing a little longer. 

Are you going to try this tip? Do you usually eat in front of something distracting, like the TV? Would you ever want to work on your eating habits? Tell us in the comments!

Do guys care about body image just as much as girls do?

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If you say “I feel fat” after hanging out, you need to talk about other stuff! | Source: ShutterStock

Everyone utters the dreaded “I feel fat” every now and then. But could your girls be the reason you sometimes feel down on yourself and have a negative body image?

A new study looked at 75 pairs of female BFFs and asked how often the pals chat about things like weight, exercising, weight loss, their appearances, and their relationships with food. Researchers also made a point to check if the gals had a healthy body image overall and what kind of pressures they felt from their friends about their sizes.

It turns out that the more time we spent talking to friends about things like weight, weight loss, or what we wish we looked like, the crappier we feel about ourselves–and the more likely we are to grumble, “I feel fat” later on. The research also indicated that our body image concerns are often mirrored in our friends’ own worries–so if you tell your bestie, “I feel fat,” she may wind up saying it right back to you. That’s no fun!

One of the researchers explained it like this: “Our research demonstrates that friends influence each other through at least three processes: perceived pressure to be thin; body-related talk; and perceptions. Although these perceptions are somewhat grounded in reality, i.e. they are close to the truth, they are more influential than reality.”

What that basically means? The more you guys mope and say “I feel fat,” the fatter you’re both going to feel–even if and when you’re not fat at all. (We think you’re hot, btw.) How do you get around this?

Simple. Instead of saying “I feel fat,” catch yourself and instead just tell your BFF, “You look awesome.” You’ll be deflecting attention off of yourself and making your pal feel amazing–and chances are she’ll return the favor. If you guys start talking about food or dieting, instead of saying how fat you feel, talk about how amazing you felt after your last workout, how beautiful Harry Styles is, or how delish your new red velvet cake recipe is. Because friends are supposed to build one another up and make each other feel better–not feel fat!

How often do you say “I feel fat?” What’s your response when a friend says she feels fat? Do your friends affect your body image? Tell us in the comments!

Is your BFF making you feel crappy on purpose? Here’s how to tell!

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

Is her weight loss what she's done best?

In the latest issue of Self magazine, Jennifer Hudson talks about her recent weight loss, and sends kind of a weird message out to gURLs.

She reveals that when she first got to Hollywood, she thought she was the “perfect size”… until a reporter asked her what it was like to be plus-sized. She says, “I looked around, like, Who is she talking to? Oh, me? I’m plus-sized? In the neighborhood I’m from in Chicago, a (size) 16 is normal. But in Hollywood, everyone looks exactly the same, so I stood out.”

Jennifer has lost over 80 pounds and dropped from a size 16 to a size 6. In the interview, she adds, “I’m prouder of my weight loss than my Oscar!”

We’re happy that Jennifer feels so great in her own skin, but should her dramatic weight loss really be considered her biggest accomplishment? Winning an Oscar is a prestigious award that many actors try for years and years to get. We kind of feel like Jennifer is saying she’s happier about being skinny than being talented, and we’re not sure how we feel about that.

WDYT, gURLs? Should weight loss be considered your biggest accomplishment? Is it really that important to be skinny? Have you ever experienced a dramatic weight loss likeJennifer has? Discuss below!

what's your must-have workout tool?

Wish you could afford those cool exercise apps for your phone? Today, Nike+ is giving theirs away for free (available on iTunes App Store) in honor of their fifth anniversary!

|Talk about your favorite weight loss tools on the Shout Out Boards!|

The Nike+ GPS App allows runners to use their iPhone to visually map every run while tracking pace, distance, time and calories-burned as well as stay motivated with instant feedback during and after each run. And did we mention it’s totally free today?

Do you have the Nike+ app? What do you think of it? What are other apps that you <3? Discuss below.

more ways to get gURLy:

• Pearls of wisdom, survey q’s, polls, quotes to live by — it’s all on gURL.com’s Twitter. Follow us!
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• Your hook on hooking up: gURL’s sex, health & relationships blog.
• Need some advice, quick? Ask Heather anything; she answers three q’s, daily!
• Bored? Take new quizzes and play gURL games

jordin tweeted this pic of her new bod

Celebrity weight loss is freaking everywhere. Raven did it. Snooki did it. And now Jordin Sparks did it. Here’s our question: Do you think celebs really lose weight to be healthy or do you think it’s more because they want to fit in?

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According to JSYK, Jordin swears her slim-down was 100% for her. Says the “I Am Woman” singer, “Every time someone sees a slimmed down picture of me it’s not because I felt the pressure of the girl next to me being size 2, so I have to be that way too.”

The singer (who does look healthy and happy, BTW) explains, “It’s just making the choice for myself to be healthier, because I know that I’m less sick when I’m more active, I have more energy when I’m more active. And I definitely need all the energy I can get with this new song!”

|Discuss: Would you trade one year of your life for the perfect body?|

WDYT, gURLs? If you want to lose weight, what’s your #1 reason? Share below.

more ways to get gURLy:

• Pearls of wisdom, survey q’s, polls, quotes to live by — it’s all on gURL.com’s Twitter. Follow us!
• Luv gURL? Then ‘Like’ us, too! Let’s be friends on Facebook and you’ll get first looks at stories!
• Can’t get enough of gURL.com? We don’t blame you. Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
• Let’s talk. Shout Out advice, music, politics, poetry, your style and MORE!
• Your hook on hooking up: gURL’s sex, health & relationships blog.
• Need some advice, quick? Ask Heather anything; she answers three q’s, daily!
• Bored? Take new quizzes and play gURL games!

snook's new look

We’re used to seeing pint-sized Snooki partying it up on Jersey Shore, usually skipping the gym part of GTL — until now.

|Talk about your weight loss journey on the Shout Out Boards.|

The Berry has posted a bunch of weight-loss pictures of the MTV gURL, and Snooki has been tweeting about her dieting journey, saying things like, “As everyones planning their night at the club, I’m wondering when Golds closes lol. #motivated.”

How do you feel about Snooki’s weight loss? Do you like seeing stars slim down or do you think it’s like selling out? Share your thoughts below.

more ways to get gURLy:

• Pearls of wisdom, survey q’s, polls, quotes to live by — it’s all on gURL.com’s Twitter. Follow us!
• Luv gURL? Then ‘Like’ us, too! Let’s be friends on Facebook and you’ll get first looks at stories!
• Can’t get enough of gURL.com? We don’t blame you. Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
• Let’s talk. Shout Out advice, music, politics, poetry, your style and MORE!
• Your hook on hooking up: gURL’s sex, health & relationships blog.
• Need some advice, quick? Ask Heather anything; she answers three q’s, daily!
• Bored? Take new quizzes and play gURL games!

|Wanna talk about losing, gaining, loving, hating, everything about your weight? Get talkin’ on the Shout Out Boards!|

According to Jezebel, researchers found that 16% of gURLs would trade a year of their life, 10% said they’d trade two to five years, 2% said they’d trade 10 years, and 1% said they’d give up 21 (!!!) whole years of their life just to have the “perfect body.”

WDYT? Would you give up any time to have your ideal body for the rest of your life? How much? Leave your numbers (or lack thereof) in the comments or on the Shout Out Boards.

more ways to get gURLy:

• Pearls of wisdom, survey q’s, polls, quotes to live by — it’s all on gURL.com’s Twitter. Follow us!
• Luv gURL? Then ‘Like’ us, too! Let’s be friends on Facebook and you’ll get first looks at stories!
• Can’t get enough of gURL.com? We don’t blame you. Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
• Let’s talk. Shout Out advice, music, politics, poetry, your style and MORE!
• Your hook on hooking up: gURL’s sex, health & relationships blog.
• Need some advice, quick? Ask Heather anything; she answers three q’s, daily!
• Bored? Take new quizzes and play gURL games!