The Skinny Confidential: A Babe's Sexy, Sassy Health and Lifestyle Guide (6 page)

+ Fill a cocktail glass with ice and squeeze organic lime over the ice. Add vodka and pour sparkling water over the vodka. Mash the pomegranate seeds with a fork for about 30 seconds. You want the pom seeds to appear jam-like. Pour the mashed seeds into your cocktail. Garnish with a slice of lime. Cheers!

EXTRA ALC TIPS

Wine:
Add ice to your white wine to drink it more slowly. The ice melts, leaving water in the glass, which I’ve found takes me longer to drink! It will also give you that extra kick of hydration.

Beer:
Go for light beer. Avoid heavy, darker beers. Two of my favorites are Amstel Light
^®
and Corona Light
^®
. And, obviously, always add a lime so you can at least feel like you’re getting some health benefits (antioxidants!!).

SAUCES
NAUGHTY STEAK MARINADE

1.5 oz/40 ml rye whiskey

3 oz/80 ml balsamic vinegar

3 dashes of chili flakes, to taste

Sea salt, to taste

+ Mix together. Marinade time: 40 to 60 minutes.

My all-time fav salad dressing is the one
here
. It’s low cal, delish and easy to make. And a big FYI: Homemade dressings can take, like, 5 seconds to make. There’s absolutely no reason to buy “low-cal” dressings filled with additives and chemicals. Homemade is the way to go! Even at restaurants, I ask for a side of lemon and chili flakes and have the waiter dress my salad in olive oil and red wine vinegar. Squeeze the lemon and chili flakes on top of the dressed salad.

There’s absolutely no reason to douse your foods in caloric sauces, dressing and/or condiments. Die-hard ketchup lovers, I’m talking to you!. If you’re having only a small amount, that’s fine. But if you’re squirting ketchup down your throat, it’s probably time to find a ketchup substitution.

I mean, if your lettuce is constantly swimming in dressing, you have more cream than coffee in your cup and your French fries are becoming the condiment to your ketchup, then start to introduce your palate to the amazing world of seasoning.

SPICES, CITRUSES AND HERBS! OH MY!

SPICE IT UP!

Cinnamon:
regulates blood sugar, helps with Aunt Flow pains and reduces pain linked to arthritis.

Chili flakes:
the ultimate metabolism speeder.

SEXY CITRUSES

Lemon:
aids with digestion, cleanses the system and is one of the best sources for potassium.

Lime:
known to reverse signs of aging, contains calcium and helps lower cholesterol.

Orange:
one of the healthiest foods in the world. Oranges are a fab source of vit C and they’re an amaze source of fiber.

MY FAVORITE FRESH HERBS

Basil:
known to prevent some cancers and boost the immune system.

Cilantro:
the best anti-inflammatory. Ever. ‘Nuff said.

Rosemary:
one of the best mood elevators, it freshens the breath and promotes hair growth. Sold!

Thyme:
known to help relieve coughs/sore throats/colds. It’s been used as a mouthwash and topical application for centuries, too.

People don’t understand the power of spices, citruses and herbs. I stay away from heavy steak sauces; thick, store-bought dressings; and overly sugary condiments.

And honestly? It’s not because I’m depriving myself.

It’s because I’m addicted to all-natural seasonings.

Once you start to eat clean, your body (and mind) will crave clean eating automatically. It becomes a lifestyle.

For instance:

Use cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice in your coffee rather than artificial sweetener or sugar. Yes, there’s such thing as pumpkin pie spice. It contains cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice.

Instead of mounds of ketchup, eat pico de gallo, fresh salsa or salsa verde.

Instead of tomato paste in spaghetti, make your own DIY sauce. Simply chop up fresh tomatoes with garlic, fresh basil, lemon juice, sea salt and chili flakes.

VOILÀ!
SO EASY.

Know what the hell you’re putting into your mouth!

Simply eat clean. Stay away from chemicals. Fuel your body with healthy, organic, fresh foods. Definitely treat yourself. But practice portion control. I say it over and over again because it’s important.

Moderation is key, babes. Key.

4
GREEN
POTION

Everyone should have a forever-lasting love affair with green juice.

It really is a game changer.

Ya, ya, I know what you’re thinking.

TOO TRENDY!

THE SKINNY CONFIDENTIAL SEXY MAGIC ELIXIR

2 handfuls of kale

½ cucumber

½ grapefruit (just the juice)

½ lemon (just the juice)

½ ginger root, diced and peeled

½ jalapeño

A sprinkle of cayenne on top

+ Juice everything together.

But wait.

This trend is here to stay.

Why? It will change your skin, hair, nails, diet and health.

Investing in a juicer is investing in your future.

After a while of using generic veggies, you’ll start to have fun with it.

Some fun additions: turmeric, cayenne, jalapeños, ginger root, ginseng, chia seeds, hemp seeds, bee pollen, papaya … I could go on for hours.

My morning elixir kicks my ass into gear every.single.day. I never miss my daily green drink.

It’s so easy after you get the hang of it. Have your ingreds prepared the night before and ready to juice in the A.M. No excuses!

If you’re in a rush and can’t get fresh juice, make sure you’re purchasing pre-made juice that’s cold pressed.

None of that pasteurized shit. ‘K?

Because if juice is pasteurized, it’s pretty much empty cals. And totally not clean eating (or juicing). If you’re buying juice from the store, make sure it’s cold-pressed and organic.

And don’t even get me started on concentrated juice.

I mean, concentrated juice is just nasty. It’s pumped with fillers, fake as a tanning-bed tan and filled with high fructose corn syrup. Drinking this much sug on a regular basis can cause all kinds of crazy diseases (kidney disease and diabetes to name just a couple).

RIGHT?

I can’t really think of anyone who’s a fan of filler in their morning OJ.

I’m so addicted to juicing, I pour a little juice over my Chihuahua’s all-natural kibble every morning. Obsessed much?

Oh? You’re not addicted yet?!

Hey, just because it’s a dark-green icky color that you’re not used to doesn’t mean it tastes nasty.

First of all, man the F up!

Beauty is pain. People try new things every day to stay young and look beautiful. Why not be beautiful from the inside out? Take care of your entire system and let it shine from the inside to the outside.

The benefits will be way worth it.

Besides, if you’re so grossed out, plug your nose and drink it down the hatch. Drinking your greens is def an acquired taste, but lemme tell ya, it’s one that you’ll learn to love. After a while, you’ll become addicted to green juice. Don’t believe me? Try it!

OK, let’s talk about juice cleanses.

CLEANSES ARE AMAZING.

I mean, they require some major discipline. But doesn’t anything that’s worth it require discipline?

You have to really get into a mindset. But any cleanse I’m a part of includes food. I like cleanses that incorporate sweet potatoes, avocados, veggies and lots of kale!

Personally, I’m a big fan of the three-day juice cleanse. I think it’s just enough. Not too short, not too long.

Drinking juice all day long is so hydrating that by day three, you’ll be buzzing off the walls. Cleansing flushes all the toxins out of the system. So ya, you’ll probably clean out your pipes.

But who doesn’t need to clean out the pipes every so often?

If you complete a cleanse properly, your stomach will shrink, your skin will shine and you’ll crave healthier foods.

Make sure if you’re cleansing that you’re drinking tons of water, avoiding strenuous workouts (aim for Pilates and/or a light hike or walk) and getting enough sleep.

DIY Cleanse Ingredients (using 3 to 4 of each ingredient):

Day 1: cucumber, kale, apple, lemon and ginger

Day 2: beets, lettuce, carrots, celery, lemon and parsley

Day 3: apples, celery, spinach, cucumber, lemon and ginger

(Cleanse details courtesy of Juicers in Solana Beach, California)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CLEANSING

I am making my juice at home; can I use a blender?