The Ricki Lake Weight Loss Story: The Tribulations Of Ricki Lake’s Yo-Yoing Weight
Ricki Lake’s struggles with her weight are well known and well publicized. It’s also well known that she was given the role of overweight Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray as a teenager partly because she was the right body type. After Hairspray, she went on to star in other films as well as hosting her own long running talk show, which ran from 1993 until 2004.
In 2007 she decided to lose weight and shed 24 pounds. She But over the following years she put it back on again. In 2011, inspired by Kirstie Alley’s appearance on the show, she competed in Dancing With The Stars.
It was a notable performance, not just because she and partner Derek Hough made it through to the finals and into 3rd place but because of the weight she lost during the series. By the end of the 10 weeks of filming she’d lost 20 pounds and looked the best she’d looked in a long time.
In an attempt to keep the weight off she organized to have 1,400 calories per day meals delivered by Freshology. However, she also attributed her continued weight loss to regular exercise as much as to the calorie controlled diet.
Recent photos of the star however show that despite this, she has put a lot of weight back on. Some sources state that she’s heavier now than she’s ever been. She reportedly does work out but according to some sources, puts in a token effort at best. Which is a pity because every time her weight goes back up, and every time she goes on a crash diet to lose it again, she is putting her health at risk.
If you watch TV or read the news, you’ve possibly seen or heard about a celebrity weight loss supplement touted as the “secret”, and absolutely safe (because it’s natural!) alternative. Well, today it’s a secret no longer because we’re here to tell you all about it.
A very real and significant concern when losing weight is how you’ll look. You could end up with sags and bags, or you could end up lean and buff. If your body shrinks in size as you lose weight without the skin area also “shrinking,” you could end up with loose skin hanging around your upper arms, waist, stomach, and other areas. By the time you attain your ideal size, the only solution for tightening up your skin is plastic surgery.
Getting Started on Ricki Lake Weight Loss Journey: Avoid Weight-Loss Sagging
To avoid sagging skin, it is important to start strength training now and continue throughout your weight-loss program. This way, your skin will shrink along with the rest of your body. As you reach your ideal size, new people you meet will have no idea that you were ever overweight. How? Because your skin will fit your body perfectly. You can achieve this with strength training.
Energy, Stamina, and Strength Training in Ricki Lake Weight Loss Plan
Quick results in losing weight are achievable with strength training. After only three months of two hour-long strength-training sessions a week, your body will become smaller. Your waist, upper arms, and stomach will be more toned.
Only two sessions of strength training a week are necessary. Three sessions are feasible for those ambitious individuals, but avoid more than that. Strength training creates small tears in the fibers of your muscles. This is beneficial since they repair during your “off” days, making the muscles stronger and tighter. Overdoing strength training prevents proper muscle rebuilding.
Strength Training Approaches for Ricki Lake Weight Loss Success
1. Free weights: Popular, easy to use, and widely available. Start with 2- to 3-pound weights and add weight as your body adapts.
2. Stretch tubing: A stretchy thin tube with handles on each end, resembling a jump rope. Purchase in several levels of resistance.
3. Flex band: A long, wide, stretchy band used for resistance training.
4. Ankle and wrist weights: Strap them on for resistance during strengthening exercises.
5. Body bar: A long, weighted bar used for resistance training that may have removable weights on either end.
6. Exercise ball: A large inflated ball used for challenging strength-training exercises.
7. Magic circle: A circular handheld ring, about 15 inches in diameter, with handles across from each other. Compress the circle with legs, arms, and other body parts for a workout.
8. Pilates classes and equipment: An exercise method that creates long, lean, and strong muscles, plus strong abs and excellent posture.
9. Exercise machines: Adjust the resistance of the machines to match your strength levels.
10. Power-pump classes: Lift weights to the beat of music.
Ricki Lake Weight Loss and Body Composition
Muscle weighs more than fat. A person with higher muscle mass could weigh more but wear a smaller size. In addition to using weight as a measure of attaining your ideal size, consider your body fat percentage.
Body Fat Percentage in Relation to Ricki Lake Weight Loss
A high body fat percentage can lead to significant health risks, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and autoimmune disorders.
When you have your body fat tested at a health club or health practitioner’s office, you will receive a reading of body fat, water, and muscle percentages. All three add up to 100 percent. With the assumption that water weight remains almost constant for each individual, the variables are body fat and muscle. The more muscle you have, the less body fat you have (and vice versa).
Here are ideal body fat percentages:
Women:
– Up to age 20: 14-21 percent
– Age 20 to 50: 17-27 percent
– Age 50+: 20-30 percent
Men:
– Up to age 20: 9-15 percent
– Age 20 to 50: 14-21 percent
– Age 50+: 19-23 percent
Understanding Body Fat and Ricki Lake Weight Loss Journey
In body fat measurements, lower is generally better, but don’t go below the recommended guidelines. A person must have at least some body fat to be healthy. Fat pads internal organs such as kidneys and provides protection against cold weather. For women, the minimum recommended fat percentage is 12 percent. If a woman has less, her menstrual cycles could cease. Men must have a minimum of 5 percent to stay healthy.
Improving Your Muscles for Ricki Lake Weight Loss Success
By doing strength-training exercises for two to three hours a week, you can reduce your body fat percentage by as much as 10 percentage points within six months.
Having less body fat and more muscle provides more energy, higher stamina, improved muscle definition, and elevated metabolism. This means you’ll burn through calories faster and can eat more food without gaining weight.
Fitness Rules for Older People
As we age, it’s important to adjust our fitness routines to cater to our changing bodies. The National Institute on Aging recommends incorporating four main types of exercise into your routine: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Endurance exercises improve cardiovascular health, strength exercises build muscle mass and reduce the risk of falls, balance exercises improve stability, and flexibility exercises improve range of motion. Remember to always consult with a healthcare professional before beginning any new exercise regimen.
Reference: National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). Exercise and physical activity.
