Eat, Drink and Celebrate

Your way to A

Healthy MIND and BODY

Author Cara Alwill Leyba

This week’s book of the week is The Champagne Diet by Cara Alwill Leyba. And what better way to toast with champagne and spent time with loved ones while discussing the book. We have picked out our favorite moments from this book and hope you will learn what we learn. This books changes the way you view your weight and yourself forever you will immediately feel empowered, enlighten and inspired.  

Summary

Introduction

Did someone say Champagne diet?…

Let’s get something straight. This is not a diet book. I am not here to tell you how to lose weight – though I will give you a fair warning; that may be delicious added bonus as a result of our work together. This book is not about drinking champagne all day and getting skinny (oh, nut wouldn’t that be glorious?). I am not a weight-loss guru or a fitness expert.

This book is for the woman who wants to feel good about herself and her body, and learn how to start incorporating healthy habits into her life.

It’s for the woman who is done with dieting, and ready to start paying attention to her health before the number on the scale.

Hear me out, ladies: diets do not work. There is no amount of points, frozen dinners, calorie-counting methods fitness apps, or fat free cookies in the world that will make you a healthy person Why? Because diets don’t heal with your emotions.

Now, don’t go running out to a Mickey D’s just yet… Being on the champagne diet means eating high-quality nutritious foods that look sexy on your plate. It’s about taking time to think about what you’re putting in your body and making sure it will serve your health first and foremost.

Chapter One

Are you worth it?…

Well, duh. Of course I think you’re worth it. But do you? As we embark on The Champagne Diet, the first thing I’m going to need you to do is truly and genuinely believes that you deserve the life of your dreams.

Unless you truly believe that you deserve an amazing life, you will never, ever be successful at eating well and being healthy, and ultimately, losing weight.

The fastest way to be miserable is to compare yourself – especially your body – to anyone else’s. I’ve seen countless women do this to themselves and guess what? It makes you fatter. Yes, seriously. The more you stress and obsess, the more you self-sabotage and overeat.

Remember this: nobody in this world will have the exact same story as you, or exact same body as you. Nobody in this world will lose weight at the exact same pace you do, or see results from working out the same way you do.

Define your “happy place” when it comes to weight and health and do whatever it takes to get and stay there.

Chapter Two

Champagne Diet Manifesto

I truly believe I am worthy of an amazing life. My weight does not define what I am capable of or what I deserve.

I finally came to realize that eating food made me feel good, and that became the measure of my success. Not a number on the scale, not the size of my jeans. Once my emotions became my weight-loss barometer, I was suddenly free from a vicious cycle of dieting that plagued most of my life.

Eating healthy was great, but it did not make me skinny. Unfortunately, I didn’t trade in Baked Doritos for bananas and suddenly get abs of steel. But I did work extremely hard for a little thing called self-compassion, which opened me up to a world of endless happiness, passion and creativity.

My problem with Cheat Days

One of the biggest problems with diets is the obsessive focus about what we should and should not be eating, and when we should and should not be eating it. On the Champagne Diet, there are no “cheat days.”  I don’t starve all week so that I can go buck wild on an enormous plate of lasagna and an entire breadbasket on a Saturday night. So many traditional diets teach us to reserve one day a week to splurge, so long as we’re “good” all the other days.

Chapter Three

Beautiful Foods:

How and Why You Should Glamorize Your Meals…

On the Champagne Diet, there are a few rules to abide by, and one of them is this: glamorize your meals.

Avoid shoving a slice of pizza down your throat while Facebook stalking your ex boyfriend in your pajamas. Instead, wrap yourself in your favorite silk robe and enjoy a delicate piece of salmon with sautéed asparagus and a glass of champagne.

How to Glamorize Your Meals

The Champagne Diet is not limited to a vegetarian or vegan diet, however if you do choose to eat meat or eggs, you should make sure that what you are eating is antibiotic-free, hormone free, grass fed, etc.

Go Organic

Why go organic? There are plenty of reasons. I sit more expensive? It can be, but when you learn why it’s so much better for you, the choice should be pretty clear, and worth every penny. The word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process food like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and organic farming practices are different than conventional farming.

A plant-based diet never hurt anyone. In fact, studies have proven that a plant-based diet can actually reverse disease and is one of the healthiest ways you can eat.

I can promise you that you’ll find healthy, easy recipes that will nourish your body and taste delicious. Here are a few of my favorites.

Skinnytaste.com

Eat-Yourself-Skinny.com

Pinterest.com

Creating rituals that support a healthy mind and body are crucial to our well being. If our mind and bodies are not in sync, nothing will function as it should.

Bubbles on the Brain:

How Champagne can Improve Brain Functions

Studies now show that champagne, when consumed in moderation, can actually protect the brain against injuries that occur during stroke and other illnesses including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

There are many reasons why you aren’t losing weight. We will discuss some of the factors that make it impossible for you to lose weight. As well as some recommendations from our nutritionist on a detoxification and getting the summer body you want just in time for vacation.
So get comfortable because we are just getting started.

The many factors that affect the metabolism and make it impossible for one to lose weight are
Cushing’s Syndrome
Hypothyroidism
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Hormonal Change
Depression
Chronic Stress

Two more considerations is that people tend to gain weight with age. If it is not one of these medical conditions keep in mind that drinking alcohol in moderate to excessive amount can sabotage your efforts to lose weight. Alcohol (beer & wine) are carbohydrates similar to sugar, candy, and white flour. It may raise your blood sugar levels and insulin levels. This contributes to weight gain.

Here are some recommendations from our nutritionist Adalgisa Garcia,
The best way to help detoxify your system is to eat breakfast in the morning. During the detoxification period you must drink natural juice or have a fruit in the morning. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER, about 8 glasses of 8 oz of water a day or more depending on your system. It is important that you take acidophilus and probiotics, they help restore the good bacteria of the colon. Your gut is filled with trillions of bacteria that take on a very important role in our health. Acidophilus are good for your health. Aside from preventing harmful bacteria to stay in the body, it ensures the lining of the intestines to stay in tract.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are must while doing the detoxification. During this period you must consume 50% more vegetables in your plate.

You must avoid saturated fats, high processed foods, sugar, fried food, and lactaid products. Lactaid products produce excess mucus in the colon.The point of the detoxification is to preserve the healthy mucus of the colon.

I have provided a package of detoxification supplements that assist you during and after the detoxification period. This will help make the process easier.

Liver Clenz
Cleanse, Detoxify, Protect
Advanced Liver Formula
Vegetarian
The liver is resilient, but not indestructible. Lifestyle habits and environmental toxins can take a toll. The Liver Clenz® blend is intended to provide nutritive support for the liver’s crucial detoxifying function.

The formula includes:
• A full spectrum of concentrated herbal extracts – Milk Thistle, Wasabi, Picrorhiza, Artichoke, Turmeric, Dandelion and Schizandra – herbs traditionally used for liver support.
•Additional specialized ingredients – N-Acetylcysteine, Betaine, Indole-3 Carbinol, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Plus Choline and Inositol.

Colon Detox 5 or Colon Detox

Morning Fat Burner
Our morning fat burner helps control the appetite for those who have an anxiety to eat. As well as helps burn fat. It is made of all natural ingredients. And the only side effect is a dry mouth. The first week you should lose about 4 to 6 pounds. Within a month you can lose up 10 to 20 pounds. Come in or call for a consultation to better assist you in which supplements works best for you.

Diuretic
Diuretics helps to reduce fluid levels without losing potassium.

Sufferers know better than anyone the distress “angry” skin brings. There’s no one cause, it can be a sign that something is wrong at a deeper level. The skin produces too much sebum (natural oils secreted by the sebaceous glands), causing congestion and subsequent infection. The pores become filled with the excess sebum, which traps dead skin cells and – along with overproduction of a protein called keratin – forms a plug. This stops the sebum exiting the pore and causes a build-up of bacteria. Hormones can play a big part, such as  during puberty (with the increase in testosterone) or pregnancy, if you’re taking birth control pills or if you’re suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It’s well worth having a chat with your doctor or specialist.

Increasingly we’re learning that diet is hugely important, with sugar, gluten and dairy being the main offenders. So it’s worth cutting out the potential culprits, and observing the changes through a process of elimination. There are foods that are said to fight acne- sweet potatoes, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds and red peppers – thanks to their high levels of zinc, selenium, essential fatty acids, vitamin A and beta-carotene. You also need to keep your skin cleansed and hydrated. I had bad skin as a teenager. I would take 1,000mg of time-release vitamin C supplements daily; use a gentle foaming cleanser; and dab a little skin antiseptic on the problem areas at night. What will help (but is a pain in the ass!) is using disposable towels and changing your pillowcase daily. And don’t touch you your face, as you don’t want to spread the bacteria! This advice is great for teenagers too. Manuka honey is useful for acne sufferers.

Here’s what I’ve learned on the subject so far.

UVA AND UVB RAYS

Short-wave ultraviolet (UV B) cause burning while long wave (UV A) rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are the ones responsible for aging and sun damage that you will see years down the line – including damage to the skin’s elastin and collagen, plus pigmentation and enlargement of blood vessels. A good quality, broad spectrum sunscreen protects against both.

TYPES OF SUNSCREEN

There are two ways to protect skin from burning and damage; either physical sunscreens, which work to physically block the sun, or the chemical type, which act as a filter to absorb or scatter the sun’s rays. While the chemical types aren’t visible on the skin and tend to be much lighter, most experts recommend a physical sunscreen as they offer protection against all UV rays and don’t irritate sensitive skin.

SPF NUMBER

In case you didn’t know, SPF stands for sun protection factor. Although it might be confusing, the numbers don’t refer to how long you can stay in the sun, but to the amount of UV protection the product offers.

People often – wrongly – believe that by choosing a lower SPF they’ll tan more quickly, but this increases the risk of burning and long-term skin damage – and you’re more likely to get an uneven tan and your skin will peel as a result because it’s burned.

It’s better to tan slowly.

Start with a high SPF, applied properly, and as your skin builds a tan you can graduate to a cream with a lower SPF; this will help it last longer, too. It’s important to apply sunscreen properly.

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We often forget this simple act, but increasing oxygen helps us to think more clearly. Focusing on the “in” and “out” breath will clarify thoughts and calm the mind. Make sure to breathe in from the bottom of your stomach before letting your breath out again.

Sleep It Off

Aim for 8 hours’ sleep at night. I get impatient if i don’t have enough sleep…Try to go to bed at the same time every night to train your body to wind down on cue. Our body is thrown into chaos by disrupted sleep patterns. Lack of sleep takes it toll on the skin, too, as this when the body has time to regroup and heal itself.

Visualize Calm

Meditating before I go to sleep is really helpful and visualization can be powerful tool, too. Close your eyes and choose a place. Having a calming image that you can conjure up during stressful times will help train you mind to deflect anxiety.

Quite The Mind

Download a mindfulness app to train your mind to be better able to cope with stress and silence the chatter of ongoing anxiety.

Do A Tech Detox

Being constantly on and available impacts upon your ability to relax. Making a conscious decisions to switch off gives your brain a break from information-processing.

Run A Bath

It’s pretty hard to hold on to stress in a bath. I add a few drops of lavender essential oil to boost relaxation and add to the calming atmosphere. Focus on the good is my mantra.

Work It Out

Getting the blood pumping with a high intensity short workout will help get the body back into clear-headed order, thanks to the oxygenation and the rush of endorphins. It’s hard to think about anything when you are working out.

Listen To Music

Music is a mood changer. Play something that your love – it can really bring you up. To re-energize, put on a track that gets you dancing. And be peaceful, play something beautiful.

Enjoy Life

Do things that give pleasure or bring peace – cooking, gardening or curling up with a book. See friends and have a laugh whenever you can. Life is short, so have fun!

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Water is essential – integral to the function of every organ. Getting enough should be the first step in treating your skin from within; there is literally no way for the skin to glow without proper hydration. When you don’t take in enough water, your blood draws water from the skin cells, leading to a dull and lifeless complexion. This dehydration makes the skin less elastic and less able to defend itself, making it more prone to wrinkling over time.

I often deal with dehydrated skin in my work-dry lips and a flaky surface are a giveaway. People always say how they find water boring and so opt for sugary drinks or coffee. This not only ages the skin by killing collagen, but it triggers blood-sugar and doesn’t rehydrate.

INFUSIONS

If you’re not keen on pure water, the adding flavorsome extras makes a great alternative.

CUCUMBER AND MINT

Cut Half a cucumber into slices and place in a pitcher. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into the pitcher, then slice up a second lemon and throw it in, too. Add a few sprigs of mint and pour water over. Add some ice and serve.

HERBAL

Place 1 teaspoonful of dried herbs into a teapot and add boiling water. Leave to stand for 10 minutes before straining or transfer to apitcher and add ice. Always use good quality herbs, preferably organic, from a health-food store. If using fresh herbs, finely chop and use 2 teaspoons per pot.

To Lose Weight

1. Option #1

• ½ Cucumber
• 2 Tomatoes
• 1 Stalk of Celery

2. Option #2

• 1 Nopal
• 1 Slice of a Pineapple
• 2 Stalks of Celery
• 2 Grapefruits

3. Option #3

• 5 Carrots
• ½ Beet
• 1 Stalk of Celery
• 1 Apple
• ½ Cucumber

For the Digestive System

• 2 Verde Green Apples
• ½ Cucumber
• 1 Stalk of Celery
• 1 Cup of Spinach
• 1 Cup of Parsley and Mint

For the Metabolism and to eliminate toxins

• 2 Green Apples
• 2 Carrots
• ½ Yellow Lemon

Many factors can take a toll on the skin during the summer: greater UV exposure, higher temperatures and dryness from air conditioning can result in sun damage, dehydration, oiliness from extra sebum secretion and breakouts.

Select foods rich in selenium, zinc and vitaminss C and E, nature’s protectors against free-radical -producing UV rays. Lycopene, for instace – a phytochemical present in some red fruits and vegetables is believed to increase protection against UV by boosting levels of pro-collagen. Of course, it’s important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, too, especially for UVA protection. The damage caused by overexposure to these long-wave rays of ultraviolet light, such as premature aging or increased risk of skin cancer, may not appear for years. UVB short-wave rays are the type of ultraviolet light that causes burning. But as we all know, it’s easy to get caught up in other activities; often it’s not until you take a shower that you realize you’re sunburned. Rather than getting unattractive pigmentation on your face, which is really tough to get rid of, it’s better to be safe than sorry. So apply  a good sunscreen, regally topped up, and eat generous quantities of rehydrating fruit and veg!

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Self Help Tips

*Use a cream cleanser, rosewater and a cream moisturizer, but bear in mind that no cream will ever erase lines.

*Have a facial on a regular basis.

*To keep elasticity in the skin, try a collagen drink.

*Make sure you take vitamin K2 and calcium supplements, as they are really good for the bones, and these nutrients tend to deplete as you get older.

*Make sure you take iron tablets.

*For dark circles under the eyes, take a tablespoon of molasses everyday.

For some spring can bring irritation, inflammation and breakouts- eczema due to allergies like hay fever can make skin extra sensitive. I find that skin can look dull and dry after the ravages of winter, and in need of rejuvenation and exfoliation. To speed up my skin’s recovery, I exfoliate and opt for replenishing and purifying masks during my downtime. Don’t overdo it.

Now’s the time to start thinking about your bikini body, so that when summer comes around you feel good about yourself. Starting in the spring gives you time to ramp up your exercise routine gradually. This also increases circulation in the body, helping to clear out any toxins left over from winter.

I avoid richer foods like red meat and dairy, and instead go for lots of green vegetables and leaves, along with lighter proteins. Although the science is not definitive, I have a teaspoon of manuka honey with breakfast as I’ve found that it helps keep allergies at bay.

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