Alison Sweeney is known publicly for her dual roles as an actress (on "Days of Our Lives" since 1993) and reality-show host (on "The Biggest Loser" since 2007). Off-camera, she's also juggling duties as a wife to her high-school sweetheart and mother to two children, ages 5 and 1.
Today, she'll take on yet another role as a special guest for Ladies Night Out, a celebration of women presented by the Chattanooga Times Free Press and Hamilton Health Care System of Dalton. During the five-hour event at the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center, she will answer questions, sign autographs and take the stage for a fashion show.
In an e-mail interview last week, Ms. Sweeney, 33, said her focus will be on encouraging women not to shortchange their own needs and desires when they're looking after others.
"I want to talk about how to find the balance between taking care of your family and taking care of yourself," she said. "So many contestants come to 'The Biggest Loser' taking care of their loved ones, at the expense of themselves. Learning that it's not selfish is a big first step."
Her new book, "The Mommy Diet," due in December, also will offer tips on how to stay healthy and fit during and after pregnancy. She said so many books detail how to take care of newborns and young children that she wanted her guide to focus on an expectant or new mother's needs.
"Often (moms) get left out of the equation," she said, "so I really wanted the attention to be on helping moms take care of themselves, and then the trickle-down effect being they can take better care of their families."
It'll be good advice on diet and exercise, she said, "from one working mom to another."
IF YOU GO
* What: Ladies Night Out featuring Alison Sweeney.
* When: 4-9 p.m. today.
* Where: Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center, 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, Ga. (at Exit 333 off I-75).
* Admission: $12 ($2 goes to Providence Women's Ministry of Dalton).
* Web site: www.timesfreepress.com/news/ladiesnightout2010.
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