George H.W. Bush witness at Maine same-sex wedding

KENNEBUNK, Maine (AP) — Former President George H.W. Bush was an official witness at the same-sex wedding of two longtime friends, his spokesman said Wednesday.

Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, attended the ceremony joining Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen as private citizens and friends on Saturday, spokesman Jim McGrath said.

Thorgalsen posted a photo on her Facebook page showing Bush signing the marriage license as a witness. She captioned the photo: "Getting our marriage license witnessed!"

In the photo, Bush is seated in a wheelchair, a stack of papers on his lap and his left hand poised with a pen. One bright red sock and one bright blue one peek out below the cuffs of his blue slacks.

The 41st president has deep ties to the area and owns a compound in Kennebunkport, a small coastal town. Thorgalsen and Clement own a general store in neighboring Kennebunk. They were honeymooning overseas and didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.

Gay marriage became legal in Maine in December.

One of Bush's sons, former President George W. Bush, opposed same-sex marriage and in 2004 announced his support for a proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw it. But his wife, Laura Bush, and their daughter Barbara Bush support gay marriage, as does his former vice president, Dick Cheney, whose daughter Mary Cheney is openly gay.

A spokesman for George W. Bush on Wednesday declined to comment on his current feelings about same-sex marriage or his thoughts about his father's role in a same-sex wedding.

In July, George W. Bush made headlines when he said he wouldn't comment on the issue, saying he "shouldn't be taking a speck out of someone else's eye when I have a log in my own." He later explained that he just wasn't going to answer the question because he was out of politics.

His brother Jeb Bush, a former governor of Florida and a potential presidential candidate, has said same-sex marriage is an issue best left to the states to decide. In a speech in June, he told the Faith & Freedom Coalition the nation needs to be supportive of non-traditional families.

Via Yahoo News!

Former President George H.W. Bush is witness at same-sex wedding

By Brendan O'Brien

(Reuters) - Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, were the official witnesses of a same-sex marriage between two women in Maine over the weekend, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

The former first couple witnessed the private ceremony on Saturday in Kennebunk between Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen, according to Jim McGrath, a Bush spokesman.

Clement posted a photograph on her Facebook page of President Bush signing a piece of paper as the couple, close friends of the Bushes, watched and held champagne glasses.

The couple owns H.B. Provisions, a general store in Kennebunk, Maine. The former president owns a compound in Kennebunkport, about four miles (six km) east of Kennebunk.

Maine is one of 13 states that allows gay marriage.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act, which barred same-sex couples from federal marriage benefits. But the high court declined to rule on whether gay men and lesbians have a fundamental right to marry, leaving it to states to decide.

The ruling has led to legal challenges in federal and state courts to laws that restrict the rights of gays and lesbians.

Several other notable Republicans have voiced support for gay marriage, including Bush's son, former President George W. Bush.

But same-sex marriage is opposed by most Republicans. A Gallup poll in July found 66 percent of Republicans were against making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus reiterated in July the party's stand that marriage was between one man and one woman.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Eric Beech)

Via Yahoo News!

A wedding diet is not a piece of cake

By Mike Kemp, Getty Images/Rubberball

EnlargeCloseBy Mike Kemp, Getty Images/Rubberball

But many brides-to-be and grooms-to-be don't have those royal bodies, and they work hard to lose weight before they tie the knot.

After all, they'll probably be photographed and videotaped throughout the day, and the albums, portraits and videos will be life-long keepsakes, so they both want to look their best, says Robyn Flipse, a registered dietitian in Bradley Beach, N.J., and co-author of The Wedding Dress Diet.

Brides especially are often highly motivated to reach a healthy weight and get in great shape because they're "the star of the show," she says.

A wedding is a powerful motivator, and "I don't see anything wrong with that motivation," Flipse says. "It can be put to good use to overcome some sloppy eating habits and lack of interest in exercise."

SUCCESS STORY: Lasting changes for Rae GoodmanTaking a healthy approach to weight can make the difference between being a glowing bride and Bridezilla, she says. And for men, there is a risk of arriving at the ceremony with sore muscles and an aching back from being overambitious at the gym.

Those who try to lose 20 pounds in the couple of weeks before the wedding by fad dieting or starving themselves may be miserable, Flipse says. "They are going to show up feeling drained. Their skin will look sallow and saggy because they have been dehydrating or starving themselves. Anyone who is underfed and trying to use willpower to not eat is going to be cranky. You don't want to look horrible from starving and have a miserable personality to go with it."

Instead, pace yourself, she says. Flipse recommends allowing about six months to lose 25 pounds or so. If you're getting married this October, you can safely lose 20 pounds before then. If you've got a June date this year, aim for 10 pounds, she says.

Most people lose about a pound a week. Some, especially men, may be able to lose two a week. You can accomplish this in a healthy way by going to Weight Watchers, working with a registered dietitian in private practice, using another reputable weight-loss plan or turning to websites such as my fooddiary.com or mycaloriecounter.com, Flipse says.

Exercise is key. Brides often focus on toning their upper arms and upper body, which may be visible in their dress; men often focus on the upper body and abs to be sure their cummerbund isn't too snug.

Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian in Chicago, encourages people to enlist the help of their fiances with healthy pre-wedding changes. "Not only will the support make it more likely to get to your wedding day goals, it's also important for life after the honeymoon."

Unhealthy behaviors can be contagious, she says. If one person adopts healthier habits, but her partner is a junk-food junkie/couch potato

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