Eat clean Diet Purrr-fection! How Anne Hathaway slid into that catsuit!

Watching another reincarnation of catwoman I can honestly say ... the catsuit is completely unforgiving so I wanted to know what went into the behind the scenes of making it look so hot! Luckily Shape magazine interviewed Anne Hathaway on the secret to rocking the skintight uniform!

With only one month to get Catwoman-ready, Anne Hathaway enlisted a little help from nutritional coach Jackie Keller and followed a vegan like anti-inflammatory diet which included whole grains to control blood sugar, avocados, almonds (she doesn't like walnuts), sesame seeds, dark chocolate, bright red and orange vegetables that are high in antioxidants (Hathaway loves yams), dark leafy greens, ginger and turmeric. Keeping her protein levels up to build muscle during intense training sessions was the main challenge Hathaway faced.

She had professional help, but if all you have is a few days to get ready for the beach (or you want to slip into a cat suit for Halloween) Keller's number one tip is to cut out red meat as your source of animal protein and, "default to fish particularly salmon, sardines and trout along with legumes to increase fiber and fatty acids. This will help you fill up and reduce saturated fat and, over all you will eat less," according to Keller.

Secondly, the nutrition coach suggests you do what Hathaway did during filming and reverse the portions on your plate. Vegetables should cover half of your dish with other half divided between protein and carbohydrates.

Some of Ann's favorite meals during filming included miso soup, a tempeh club avocado sandwich on gluten free bread, Tuscan brown rice salad, vegetarian chicken fried steak made with seitan, egg white frittatas and vegetarian egg rolls. The actress says she ate every two to three hours for a total of about 1500 to 1800 calories a day. That included six or seven meals plus a soup or sald daily because the goal was to get Hathaway fit and toned while remaining slim so continually fueling her body was a must! Keller made sure her client had a dessert every day so she wouldn't have any cravings and Hathaway admits her love of chocolate wasn't sorely missed because she indulged in gluten free chocolate chip cookies, fudge brownies, and chocolate power smoothies made with almond milk.

Lastly, Keller recommends doubling your water intake. "You need lots of water to keep flushing stuff through your system. Almost all of us, even the most conscientious drinker is probably under hydrated. Water is actually important for metabolism" which is why she encouraged Hathaway to stay hydrated.

Thanks to these three tips, her challenging Catwoman workout which was comprised of stunt training 5 days a week and an hour and a half of dance (let's talk cardio!), and Keller's anti-inflammatory meals ... the actress is in purr-fect shape to pull off that cat suit!

To read the full story on SHAPE click {HERE}

Dry Brushing to get Rid of Cellulite and Make Your Skin Glow!

Our skin is sometimes known as the third kidney because it eliminates over a pound of waste a day, but when the skin is clogged with million of dead skin cells and other debris, toxins can stay in the body putting stress on other elimination organs like the kidneys and liver sending them into overload. The skin is the last part of our body to receive nutrients yet the first place to show a vitamin deficiency. Alot of people suffer from cellulite build up which is really a toxin build up that manifests  as dimply skin where we wish it wouldn't show.

Numerous sources report that dry brushing works to remove cellulite. Science does not support this theory however, but even if the underlying cause of cellulite is unaffected, the temporary swelling seen after dry brushing can help achieve the appearance of smoother skin temporarily. Well, it can't hurt ... Plus skin brushing is one of the best and oldest, natural anti-aging technique that you should be taking advantage of to help move lymph fluid, increase circulation and make your skin look healthier i.e. GLOWING!  


WHAT IS DRY BRUSHING?

Skin Brushing is the act of gently brushing your skin with a body brush or loofah. Taking only 5 minutes once a day or a couple times a week, you can do this at home to exfoliate the skin removing dead skin cells {super important if you are out in the sun at all because our skin thickens from exposure}, promote new skin cell growth, stimulate blood flow and tighten the skin.



WHAT YOU NEED

To dry brush purchase a soft, natural fiber {vegetable bristle, not synthetic} long handled, bath-type brush from a local health food store for about $10. A loofah or rough towel will also work. As your skin becomes accustomed to the process you can switch to a coarser brush. Keep it dry, don't leave it in the shower.

GET NAKED AND START BRUSHING

The ideal time of the day to do this is when you're body is dry, before showering so you can wash off the impurities from the skin resulting from the brushing.


Start out brushing with light but firm pressure (especially in more callous areas like your soles and elbows) beginning with your feet in an upward direction and working up toward the heart. Some people say you should use long sweeping stokes, or short flicking strokes, but I like to use small circular motions. Avoid sensitive areas and your breasts. Your goal is for pink/flush looking skin, not to irritate your skin so it should not be red.

                                                                                            vega-licious.com

Finish by showering and moisturizing, after all you did just remove all those dead skin cells!

Start today and notice the improvement in the way your skin looks and feels ... Your skin is the largest organ of your entire body!




To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

 

DIY beaded and embellished shoes! How to make them yourself..

As promised, how to make your own beaded shoe tutorial! And here's what you'll need:

Sandals: These are from Payless on sale for only $14.99 {get them HERE} they are suede which was super easy to glue on. I think sandals are the easiest shoe to work with because you have access between the straps. Keep in mind if you want to use a medallion like these that you will need to choose the right style to be able to that.

Seed beads: These are easy enough to find, but make sure for this project that you get them in a flat matte color and not shiny, transparent. They come in different sizes - for this project I used #11. Seed beads roll around easily so use a piece of felt to keep that from happening.



Thread: There are a few options here, clear or color. I decided to use an orange thread to match my shoe and it can be regular spool thread or embroidery thread. You can also use illusion cord sold in craft stores but make sure it is thin enough for your bead.




Needle: This is a no brainer and you MUST get a beading needle which is long and bends easily. I bought this needle at Michaels in a 4 pack and it has the eye attached to make threading easy peezy!

You'll want to start by making your bead strings that you'll be using. I found that the longer the strand the easier it was to work with. For the multi-color you don't need to follow a pattern but here is a close up to give you an idea how this shoe looks. And you can see my beed string matches perfectly with the store bought beading.

Glue: The best and strongest glue that dries clear to use for these projects is E-6000. It also helps if you can use a glue syringe to apply it so it doesn't become a big mess. You can get them {HERE}for a few bucks. I forgot to order some so I used my own insulin needle and cut off the tip. Sometimes being a type 1 diabetic has it's advantages! HA

To fill the syringe you pull out the plunger and stick the glue nozzle inside and squeeze until it is filled. You will need to repeat this. Be sure to order extra syringes if you are not able to finish the project in one sitting because after you put the glue in they are impossible to clean.

To begin you will glue the beads for the medallion in the center working around. Just cut off the thread after you set it into the glue. I used a kabob stick from my kitchen drawer to fit the beads in but a toothpick would do the trick too.

After you have the solid beading for the medallion finished, use your multi-strand to make the final loop around it. Then you should begin at the front twisting back and forth with the strand.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!

My next project? 

 These Giuseppe Zanotti boots, I saw them last year in a resale store .... still asking $400, so I am thinking I could do it myself using old jewelry taken apart, gems from the craft store and finds from unexpected places. Have fun creating!

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

 

●► BONUS Video: I show you how to make a lip palette from your melted lipsticks in this Melt Proof Makeup interview, and I wore these shoes! Also learn how to wear bronzer, cheek stains and I reveal the biggest secret of all, and often skipped, way to longer lasting makeup in sweltering heat --------->