The world witnessed the beginning of Kelly Osbourne’s weight loss transformation on the TV Series, Dancing With The Stars. Yet it wasn’t until New York Fashion Week that the extent of her weight loss was visible.

The daughter of famed Ozzy Osbourne dropped a whopping 20lbs on the hit show. Now she happily says that she has lost a total of 42lbs. Expecting to put some weight back on after the show it was a pleasant surprise when she continued to shrink.

At just 25, she credits pilates, ballet and eating well. Additionally, she goes against the cardinal rule of not eating before bed. In an interview with Life and Style Magazine she shared her trick, “I’ve learned to eat just a little bit of something that has no carbs and no sugar in it before you go to sleep because it keeps your metabolism going. They say you should never eat before you go to bed, but I’ve found just having a tiny little snack – like half an apple or something – before you go to sleep really helps.”

The former size 14 strutted her new figure throughout New York’s Fashion Week walking in Naomi Campbell’s “Relief for Haiti” fashion show as well as Betsey Johnson’s catwalk.

You just left the 7^th Store of the day. The shopping extravaganza is nearing an end and the only words you can manage to mumble between the yawns are simply, “Gosh shopping is such a workout.” Did you ever stop to think that maybe it really is exercise? Well fashion lovers, our dream has come true. Shopping is a valid workout, and a rigorous at that.

A Study by Debenhams in England has revealed facts that will make shopaholics rejoice.

On average, women are burning 5 calories per minute shuffling through the racks. That adds up to around 400 calories and almost 3 miles per spree. That’s about 48,000 calories a year. Who ever said, “shop till you drop” wasn’t joking around.

Also, it’s recommended that the average person take about 10,000 steps every day. Shopping consumes 75% of that in the typical 3-hour trip. With that, most women are briskly walk through the store with a set item in mind thus burning even more calories.

It was found that women make about 11 trips a month… seriously who needs a gym, when you have 5^th Ave right outside your door.

Kill two birds with one stone. Those days where you chose to go to the gym instead of Macy’s, are over. Save the membership money for that top you’ve been drooling over and work out while doing what you love. Shop-on fashionistas, shop-on!

After coming across Jessica Simpson’s hilarious video of her ear candling experience on twitter, the spies at Famespy were eager to try it out.

This Christmas Jessica Simpson received a gift of ear candles from her best friend, hair stylist Ken Paves. He told her how to use them, documented her experience and posted it online for the world to see. Intrigued and extremely curious about this ancient medicinal alternative, we decided to try it out. But not before proper research.

The Research:

Ear Candling has been said to date back to Ancient Tibet, China, Egypt, the pre-Columbian Americas, and even the mythical city of Atlantis. Also know and ear coning or thermal-auricular therapy the devices range from linen or cotton fabric soaked in wax or paraffin and allowed to harden into a cone shape to hand molded clay cones.

The healing advantages claimed by most ear candle manufacturers include: sinus pressure relief, ear wax removal, improved hearing and lymphatic circulation, mind purification, fortification of the central nervous system, sharpening of surrounding senses, the release of blocked energy, reduced stress and tension, opening of spiritual centers, purification of the mind and stabilized emotions.

It is believed that when lit, the hollow candle creates a vacuum that sucks out earwax, toxins and clears sinuses. In many cultures, ear candling is the remedy of choice for ear infections, Candida, fungus growth, and earaches.

Many users have raved about the process saying it was an exhilarating experience enhanced by being able to see the earwax residue after the burn. Skeptics along with scientists however, have proven the wax residue to be none other than the wax from the candle rather then toxins and earwax. Additionally, the external ear canal is not continuously connected with the middle ear, sinuses or nasal passages, therefore cleansing of these areas through this method is impossible. In some cases burns, discomfort and hearing loss have occurred.

Since we haven’t heard anything about Jessica Simpson going deaf or having negative effects from her trial, our fear factor meter did not out weigh our interest. So, fully aware of the risks and complications we decided to go ahead with the experiment.

The Process:

I sat with my head horizontally resting on the couch arm. After punching the candle through a plastic plate (which prevents burns from fallen ashes) the large end was lit while the narrow cone was positioned within my ear.

Holding it steady with my free hand I sat and listened to the crackling of the burning fabric. Five minutes later Chrissy cut the excess ash from the candle and the burning continued. Approximately 10 minutes later the flame hit the point where you’re supposed to take it out, and that was that. The process was repeated for the other ear.

The Results:

No pain, discomfort, burns or hearing loss…so far. The entire experience wasn’t spiritually releasing nor did it feel as if I was getting healed. Although, this could be partly due to the fact that I was entranced in viewing Bravo’s “Kell on Earth”.

My ears felt weird, as if I had earplugs in for a while. Nothing got hot and no wax dripped into my ears. The only noticeable result occurred immediately after removing the candles from my ears, when my hearing seemed particularly crisp.

Conclusion:

All in all, there was nothing spectacular about the experience. Definitely falls into the purely for entertainment purposes slogan many manufacturers print on their boxes. It wasn’t much more then a goofy experience. Who knows maybe its one of those things where immediate results don’t occur, and next week ill feel like a new person. Doubtful.

Depending on whom you talk to, coffee is either a beverage necessary to keep you…alive, or it is a tasty treat that just so happens to perk you up. Additionally, controversy over whether or not it’s healthy to drink the cup of Joe has stirred many minds.

Here are some things to bring up the next time someone nags on you for having too much coffee. Mind you, a double chocolate, caramel, frapp with a shot of vanilla and whip cream, is not what we’re speaking of.

For those of you who are determined to fulfill your 2010 resolutions, drink a cup of coffee before the grueling workout. This will help prevent the hurts-so-bad-can’t-get-out-of-bed soreness that arrives post workout.

Coffee is also a great tool for keeping you regular. Coffee is a stimulant that encourages muscle contractions in the digestive tract.

Some researchers have said that caffeine in coffee boosts memory and helps thought processing.

Antioxidants that come from coffee have been shown to decrease risks of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, Parkinson’s and gallstones. In some cases, it even helps asthma and prevents cavities.

Just like your glass of wine keeps the doctor away, coffee can too. Don’t get too excited and get carried away with your coffee intake, your body and co-workers may not be so enthusiastic. A moderate 300 milligrams of caffeine a day is superb.

As plus size models make their way into the fashion industry, the idea of anorexic thin is increasingly becomes less accepted. “Regular” curvaceous women are filling top magazines, twisting our views on beauty, for the better.

Some designers and critics have not yet jumped on the plus size boat however. The controversy over the need for zero models continues.

But how far is too far? The star dubbed responsible for making anorexia fashionable, Rachel Zoe, has crossed the acceptable line. Photos of the stylist on the beach of St. Barts are raising eyebrows left and right.

Hunched and emaciated, Rachel is far from sexy. More like frightening. Her chest is shadowed from protruding bones and her cheeks sunken in.

At just 38 years old, Zoe has battled with tabloid scrutiny over her thin figure before. As one of the most demanded stylists, reportedly charging $6,000 a day for her expertise, has stood behind the claims that she is in great health.

‘Truthfully, I’ve never seen myself as being too thin. Sometimes I’ll look at photos and be like, ‘Oh, that’s not a good look. But generally speaking, I’m not too thin,” says Rachel.

Doctors have estimated that she weighs around 80 lbs. Nowhere near healthy.

Last April Rachel reveals a thin, but not severely underweight frame. Compared to these recent pics.

The influence behind the Rachel Zoe look, consisting of oversized glasses, vintage clothing, large bags and an abundance of accessories, Rachel has risen to stardom. She has transformed Nicole Richie, Cameron Diaz and numerous other celebrities.

It’s apparent now however, that this is one trend followers wont catch on to. As the fitness, health and diet craze sweeps the nation one thing can be certain, healthy is in…anorexic is not.

We’ve all seen the Taco Bell commercials promoting the Drive-Thru Diet, that leave you wide mouthed and in awe, is this a joke? Well, since fast-food demands will not be going out of style anytime soon, we’ve got some healthier options for those on-the-goers.

Fast, cheap and guiltily satisfying, fast food chains have learned how to attack the ever-strong trigger many Americans cannot resist. But with the suits over calories and claims of “McDonald’s made me obese!” these chains have had to tweak their menus to satisfy everyone. Remember the Salad McShakers? Although they have been since discontinued, other options have made their way onto the greasy menus.

Going to McDonald’s? Skip the dollar menu and consider the 260cal Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken. With only, 9g fat this salad and portion are perfect for a fast food meal. A little tip, use just half the dressing; they give you too much anyway.

Stopping at Wendy’s? Well forget the frosty and head on over to the Garden Sensations menu. The Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Fillet is just 490 cal with 32g of fat. Get some great protein with the grilled chicken, and with just half the dressing, you get full flavor.

How about a BK fix? The King didn’t get his figure eating Whoppers all day. Ignore the cry of the Whopper Jr. and settle for a Tendergrill Chicken Garden Salad, at just 460cal with 29g of fat. Choose the light Italian dressing and you’ve got a satisfying meal.

At Arby’s resist the curly fries and try the Chopped Turkey Club Salad with the Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing. At a total of 390cal with 29g of fat, your thighs will appreciate it.

Clearly, these meals are not ideal, but we do not live in an ideal world. By choosing the less greasy semi-healthier options when you’re on the go, you can train your mind into choosing the healthier items on every menu. Here’s to resolutions coming true!

(Calorie amounts provided by online nutrition guides on Restaurant’s Homepage)

~famespy Alise

There is nothing glamorous about a juice cleanse.

No matter how many celebrities use them to detox before an awards show, there is nothing fabulous about a juice cleanse.

I slept like the dead last night and after 10.5 hours of sleep I dragged myself out of bed and back into the real world. What happened to the burst of energy I am supposed to feel? Instead, I sleep through the night and then some. My dreams have been bizarre lately: I am a fighter pilot in WWII; I run into Rachel Uchitel (alleged Tiger Woods mistress) at the salon and she tells me she wants my hair.

11:30 a.m. Just get it over with

Alise arrives for a day of work and I am thrilled to have company to witness the horror that is the green juice. I force her to have a sip and she claims it tastes like pickled spinach. She finally understands my pain. I plug my nose, down it as quickly as possible and chase it with raspberry tea. One more green juice to go!

12:15 p.m. Where are the fabulous results?

I wasn’t expecting to wake up with six-pack abs, but I am surprised I don’t look thinner. I don’t weigh myself, so my scale is my jeans and they appear to fit the same as they did 3 days ago. Sean said my skin glows, but all I see is skin so pale it’s translucent.

1:15 p.m. Way to go!

Blueprint sent me a congratulations email on making it this far and provided some suggestion on how to slowly ease back into eating real foods.

They suggest listening to your body since it will tell you what it needs and recommend light fruits and veggies and provided this sample menu for tomorrow:

Breakfast: Fruit – melon, mango, watermelon or other fruit (try not to mix fruits as it gives your digestive system extra work!)

Lunch: Fruit again or any combination of the following: cucumber, avocado, leafy greens, celery – add some lemon juice & olive oil to make a salad.

Dinner: Warm vegetable broth (low-sodium!) cucumber or avocado salad, mixed greens salad, arugula or spinach salad, lemon juice, olive oil (you get the picture)

Warm vegetable broth, you’re kidding right? I am planning to stick to fruits in the morning with some low fat Greek yogurt and salad. Also, I have been craving lentil soup (which contains warm broth) so I’ll probably make that and see how that goes.

1:45 p.m. This I will miss

I love the minty pineapple / apple blend, otherwise known as Juice #2. This I will miss, since it’s so refreshing.

3:30 p.m. Goodbye green juice

There is no love lost as I plug my nose and down my final bottle of wretched green juice. Just smelling the aroma when I open the bottle makes me want to throw up.

I quickly chug the green juice and when finished I slam down the bottle and feel like a soldier returning from war. I did it! Now, only the beet juice remains.

5 p.m. Almost done

Decided to reward myself for my hard work with a manicure, pedicure, and massage. Keep the lemonade / cayenne drink handy to sip on during my relaxing treatments. In my head I am planning out my menu options for the next week which will include lentil soup, grilled chicken with whole wheat cous cous, green salad with white balsamic, sushi, Greek yogurt with fresh berries. Surprisingly my mind has been focused on healthy options that I’ll prepare at home, instead of the fatty take-out I usually get.

7:30 p.m. Pizza Hut!

Or as Sean likes to call it, Pizza Slut. Ever since I had my wisdom teeth removed in college, couldn’t eat for 10 days and dreamed of Pizza Hut the entire time, I have been devoted to the chain. As I exit the salon there is a Pizza Hut right in front of my eyes. This hurts.

8:15 p.m. How are there still things coming out of me?

I haven’t eaten in days and only consumed liquids so I am stunned over the things still coming out of my body. I pee so much that I have relocated my office to the bathroom.

9 p.m. I was tempted to throw away the beet juice and not drink it…

But I would only be hurting myself, so I plug my nose and downed my least favorite drink. The only thing that gets me through is that this is the last time I’ll have to consume this horrible cocktail. Peppermint tea is the only chaser that rids my taste buds of beet juice.

10:45 p.m. Game ova

Vanilla, cashew, cinnamon juice is my reward for making it through the Blueprint Cleanse without breaking once. I’ve stuck by the plan, never deviated, and followed every instruction. It’s been brutal and I cannot wait to have something to eat tomorrow. Restraining myself is going to be difficult since there are chocolate covered caramels in my kitchen, but if I’ve made it this far I intend to follow through for the next few days.

I am dying to see when these miraculous results happen. I did decide to do this cleanse because I wanted to feel healthier and the misery of beet juice has masked any joy I may have gotten out of this. I’ve experienced no weight loss or increased energy yet and I am hoping this is coming in the days that follow. What I have experienced is a caffeine withdrawal headache and a close and personal relationship with my toilet. Also, I’ve spent the last 3 days either in my bedroom or office to avoid the kitchen and discovered that if I don’t have coffee I can be one hell of a nasty witch.

]]> http://famefit.com/2010/01/08/detox-at-your-door-blueprint-cleanse-day-iii/feed/ 0 http://famefit.com/2010/01/06/detox-at-your-door-blueprint-cleanse-day-ii/ http://famefit.com/2010/01/06/detox-at-your-door-blueprint-cleanse-day-ii/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:12:21 +0000 Famefit http://famefit.com/?p=126

After the horror of the nasty beet juice, I managed to fall into a blissful sleep and dreamed of McDonalds.

At 5am, I was awoken by a pounding headache so strong I could barely see. I assumed I needed more water, since it had been 6 hours since I’d consumed anything and quickly drank a bottle. I managed to fall back to sleep, but when I woke up at 9am the headache was still lingering. I texted my sponsor Amy (the one who inspired me to do this) to make sure I wasn’t having some type of brain aneurism from food withdrawal. She reminded me that I haven’t had caffeine in 24 hours and that probably caused the headache. Makes sense, considering I drink 2 cups of coffee each morning. I took 2 Aleve, downed a bottle of lukewarm water and took an extra long shower as I prepared for round 2 of the Blueprint Juice Cleanse.

11:45 a.m. Back for more!

Plug my nose and it’s down the hatch with Juice #1, The Green Juice that I loathe. Yesterday it took me almost 1 hour to finish the first juice and now I knock it back in 5 minutes flat. Today I am using herbal raspberry tea as a chaser to wash away the salad flavor.  Food is the farthest thing from my mind.

1:30 p.m. Heaven in a bottle

Juice 2 is so rewarding after that dastardly green juice. I really love the minty fresh flavor and could see myself drinking this everyday.

Food hasn’t crossed my mind and I have no hunger pains. It’s shocking to me that I haven’t started gnawing on my fingers yet, but the juices are very filling. Aside from the bad headache I woke up with, I haven’t experienced anything out of the ordinary today.

2 p.m. I am going to kill my husband… again!

After suffering all morning with a headache due to caffeine withdrawal from my beloved coffee, Sean just asked me if I could make him another pot of coffee. The nerve!

3 p.m. Exercise

My body isn’t tired, but it definitely doesn’t want to exercise. A yoga class is more than I can handle at the moment so I decide to talk a long, brisk (uphill) walk to get the blood pumping. When I got home and settled back into my laptop, I feet invigorated. That is until I read the Blueprint instructions on how to break the cleanse. Looks like chili, tacos and steak are out of the question when I can finally eat again.

3:30 p.m. Not hungry…

…but I am in one hell of a pissy mood

3:50 p.m. I HATE GREEN JUICE!

I have this down to a science now. I plug my nose as hard as I can, down Juice #3, and chase it with peppermint tea. This is the only way for me to ingest this salad mix without throwing up. In fact, the thought of green juice had me push off drinking it for 30 minutes. I will not miss this.

4 p.m. How can I say this delicately?

Loss of bowel control – OH MY GOD!

5:30 p.m. Are those hunger pains? Either that or a stomach ache

I think I am going to relocate my office to the bathroom for the next 2 days. Just as I get into my work, I need to pee. The fact that I am going 4-5 times an hour makes me think I have a ton of toxins to flush out.

5:45 p.m. Venturing outside

I’ll admit I’ve been terrified to leave the house due to unforeseen side effects from the juice cleanse. Comfortable that there won’t be trouble, I open Juice #4, the sweet and tangy lemon & cayenne mix, and head to my sister’s house. She’ll keep me busy stuffing invitations for her baby shower so I don’t have to stare at the wall and think about my sushi craving. Patty is so supportive she even called me ahead of time to ensure I wouldn’t be arriving in the next 45 minutes since they ordered take-out and would hate to eat it in front of me. I decide to hit 1 store before I arrive at her house so I am not tempted by the delicious pizza and garlic knots.

6:30 p.m. No, I am not a model

While running into the store for a few quick items, I notice a hip, fashion type checking out my juice. Perhaps she recognized it from the article in US Weekly this week, which named Sarah Jessica Parker and Jessica Szohr as fans.

The retro style bottle and Tiffany blue label is a looker and I suddenly felt amazing. I whipped my scarf around my neck, threw on my sunglasses and strutted out into the world ready for my close-up.

8 p.m. Death to beets!

Being at Patty’s house was the perfect antidote to my edginess and for two full hours as we chatted about my soon-to-be niece or nephew I forgot all about the dreaded beet juice. I pushed it off as long as I could, but Juice #5 had to be consumed.

Patty had no idea what she was getting into what I asked her to sniff the juice before I poured it down her throat. As soon as the grassy scent his her nose she burst out laughing for a good 10 minutes. Her yellow lab Murphy, who will eat anything you put in front of him, kept sniffing around so I decided to do a test of my own. I poured a few drops in a bowl and presented it to Murphy. After a few licks, the dog backed away from the beet juice. It’s that gross.

10:30 p.m. My poor fingernails

My poor nails are suffering as a result of my anxiety. Nursing a lingering headache all day has me on edge, and I feel like I am constantly surrounded by food. I am dreaming of lentil soup and sushi.

As I sit here savoring a bottle of my absolute favorite drink, Juice #6 which contains vanilla bean, cashews and cinnamon, I realize that getting through a cleanse is really mind over matter. I haven’t had any hunger pains, or food cravings, but as soon as I see something I begin to crack up. Never did I even consider breaking the cleanse, but seeing things you can’t have definitely makes it harder for you.

Sean said he already can see a change in my skin and insists that it’s clear and glowing, which is great to hear. I don’t have any more energy than I usually do, but then I am a pretty energetic and hyper person.

The caffeine has been the hardest struggle. I drink 4 things regularly: water, wine, coffee, tea. On occasion I’ll mix things up with a Diet Coke or Dirty Martini, but mostly it’s the same four things. Prior to this it never occurred to me how much I rely on my morning and afternoon coffee for a much needed jolt of energy. I noticed that during the last 2 days I’ve become very edgy and bitchy around 4pm, now known as the witching hour. It’s around that time of day that I usually have a small cup of coffee, or a snack, to keep me going. Without the extra kick, I’ve been sluggish and nasty, but luckily it quickly passes and by 5:30 pm I am back to my old self.

Tomorrow is Day #3 of the Blueprint Cleanse, my final day. Let’s hope I can survive the final 24 hours.

To be continued…

This morning I jumped out of bed bright eyed and bushy tailed, which is highly unusual for me since I am never that peppy in the morning, but I was actually excited to start the Blueprint Cleanse. What is wrong with me?

I quickly down a tall glass of lukewarm water like I do everyday and wait for my package to arrive. Next is a cup of hot water with lemon to invigorate my system. Considering I am a huge tea drinker, this is nothing out of the ordinary.

10 a.m. Yay, Blueprint Cleanse arrives on my doorstep in a makeshift cooler that kept the juice ice cold. Included in the package are carry-along bags, perfect for toting your juices to work.

I unpack my colorful juice bottles and quickly notice the graham crackers next to the stove. I rarely have food cravings this early in the morning, and typically nurse a few cups of coffee until afternoon, but as soon as you cannot have something you are certain to notice and want it. I decide to banish myself from the kitchen for the next three days other than quick trips to the fridge and the tea kettle.

11:30 a.m. Down the hatch!

Juice #1 contains romaine, celery, cucumber, green apple, spinach, kale, parsley and lemon. I forced myself not to smell it before I took my first sip because the thought of drinking a salad terrified me. To my surprise, Green Juice isn’t that bad. The strong leafy flavor, with a heavy hit of celery, is drinkable due to the lemon flavor.

12 p.m. I take it back.

Each gulp is very filling, but after 30 minutes I still have half the bottle to go. I am already sick of the green juice, so I am chasing each sip of juice with peppermint tea to rid that taste in my mouth. Finally after 50 minutes, I finish juice #1.

1:30 p.m. Juice #2 is a blessed mix of pineapple, apple, and mint.

Like a refreshing cocktail on a warm day, this fruity blend is much easier to consume with a hint of mint. I could drink this all day!

3 p.m. The thought of consuming Juice #3 (the same formula as Juice #1) makes me sick.

But I hold my nose tight and chug the liquid salad as fast as I can. Anything I said earlier about this juice being anything short of gross is completely untrue.

4 p.m. With ¼ of the Green juice left I want to throw up.

I can’t get this taste out of my mouth. YUCK! The good thing is I am not hungry nor am I craving food, but I find myself on edge. Either its the green juice making me sick or my body crashing under the pressure of no food. TBD…

4:45 p.m. I have never peed so much in my entire life.

I am not taking once an hour, I am going FOUR times an hour. I guess that’s a good sign – flushing away the toxins.

Still no hunger pains, but when I went to the kitchen to make another cup of herbal tea, I saw the dark chocolate covered caramels and cried. I quickly covered up everything on the countertops with towels and lit a calming candle.

5:30 p.m. Juice #4 gives my taste buds a wake up call: filtered water, lemon, agave nectar, and cayenne.

At first sip, a refreshing lemonade-like taste fills your body and you are grateful you don’t have to drink salad again. Then the cayenne hits you and BAM! Your body is jolted awake by the spicy sensation.

I still don’t have food cravings and I am still peeing like crazy. However, in the last hour I’ve developed a bit of a headache and cold-like symptoms so I am going to relax and read for a few hours.

6:15 p.m. I could kill my husband!

Sean has the nerve to cook a savory pizza in the kitchen. The scrumptious aroma  fills my office, where I am finishing my hearty lemon & cayenne juice. This could be the breaking point.

I can’t bear to walk downstairs, where the aroma will surely break me down, so I text Sean and ask him to stop. His response, “Didn’t you realize I’d still be eating during this time?” Point taken. But he takes pity on me and agrees to bring me the remaining juices so I can avoid the kitchen all-together.

8 p.m. Holy hell, what did I get myself into?

One sip of Juice #5 and I am ready to call it quits. The mixture of carrot, apple, beet and ginger is a tough one to drink and even tougher to hold down. I take a sip and gag. The only thing keeping me going right now is the thought of Juice #6, which is a tasty treat. So I plug my nose and down the juice in less than 4 minutes.

Afterwards, I go back to reading US Weekly’s Fitness Issue to see what I have to look forward to.

9:30 p.m. Finally, time for Juice #6 which I’ve been waiting for all day.

The cashew nut milk with vanilla bean, cinnamon and agave nectar is pure heaven. I drink the delicious dessert in record time, relieved that I have successfully completed my first day without breaking the cleanse.

Day 1 wasn’t brutal, but it wasn’t enjoyable either. Around dinner-time, I felt cold-like symptoms and was freezing, but a cup of hot tea and a warm blanket did the trick. The thing I am most surprised about is my lack of food cravings. Although food was on my mind all day, and appeared to be everywhere I looked, never did I feel the need to chew on something. The six juices were pretty filling, even if I didn’t like the taste of most of them, and constant hydration helped me stay alert. If I felt like I might fade, a cup of hot peppermint tea did the trick.

It’s rare that I tuck in before midnight, but tonight I am putting myself out of my misery and going to bed now. I’ll be dreaming of healthy skin, a lean body and waking up energetic.

To be continued…

My New Years resolutions often involves broken commitments, so I rarely bother making them. But taking better care of myself has been on my mind for some time, and ringing in a new decade gave me the swift kick in the ass I needed to commit to some sort of change.

Ushering in 2010, I studied my photo albums and reminisced over the past ten years. When Y2K arrived, I was on a boat off the Gulf of Mexico enjoying the sand and surf. Since then my life has been full of exciting adventures and fabulous times, however looking over the photos it’s clear that my girlish figure is not what it once was. I could stand to loose a few pounds, but my main priority is overall good health. I love yoga, long walks and meditation, and feeling strong is the most important thing to me. Determined to start 2010 on the right foot, I signed up for a 3-day BluePrint Cleanse, which will arrive on my doorstep Tuesday morning. This is where the fun begins.

Considering that I am half Italian and half Greek, it’s obvious that food is a major part of my life. I’ve never been one to turn down a cookie, pasta Bolognese, or steak, and nothing makes me happier than the enjoyment of a good meal with a fine bottle of wine. Part of my family life has been spent in the kitchen, where we’d gather in droves to chat while filling our bellies with Mom’s delicious delights. So the thought of not consuming an ounce of food for the next 72-hours is pure crazy for someone like me.

My friend Amy turned me on to juice cleanses last year after she tried BluePrint Cleanse to jump-start her fitness regimen. As a testament to her happiness with the product, she started her third BluePrint Cleanse on New Years Day (brave girl). I’d read about Blueprint in a number of my favorite magazines (Vogue, US Weekly, People, Star, Time Out NY, and W to name a few) and had always been impressed by their devoted celebrity clientele such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Gossip Girl’s Jessica Szohr. Amy’s enthusiasm and positive feedback was all I needed to ease my concerns as I forked over $85 per day to rid my body of toxins.

I selected a Level 1, three day Renovation Cleanse, referred to as “a gateway cleanse,” which is ideal for beginners like myself. I’ve heard plenty of horror stories about cleanses with such severe side effects that friends would be locked in a bathroom for days, but the Renovation Cleanse is supposed to have just enough fat and calories to curb your side effects, while providing you with more energy, stable moods, increased productivity; normalized weight, clearer skin and fewer “detox” symptoms.

The daily menu consists of six juices that must be taken in this order:

1)      Green Juice (Not excited about this)

2)      Pineapple, Apple, Mint (Interesting)

3)      Green Juice (Again?)

4)      Spicy Lemonade (Hmmm)

5)      Carrot, Apple, Lemon, Ginger, Beet (I HATE beets)

6)      Cashew Nut Milk (Yummy)

Blueprint featured in US Weekly

The only suggestion made regarding when to consume the juice is to wait at least one hour between drinks and to finish the last beverage at least two hours before you sleep. Also recommended is a cup of room temperature or lukewarm filtered water, with fresh squeezed lemon to hydrate the body. In addition, I can as drink as much herbal tea and water as I like.

On Monday night I prepared myself for the cleanse, which meant cutting down on the delicious indulgences and phasing out the naughty things I eat daily. Preparation for me meant 2 large cups of coffee instead of my 1 regular cup, a BLT for lunch and a bowl of shredded wheat for dinner. As I savored each bite, it felt like the last supper and I had to keep reminding myself that it’s only three days. Three-long-days…

With my kitchen stocked with healthy food, and anything considered indulgent either hidden or thrown out, I settled into bed with a cup of herbal tea and a bottle of hibiscus juice. Just in case, I’ve cleared my calendar for the week if some type of unforeseen side effects do result, but the weird thing is I am actually excited.

I’ve heard great stories about individuals who complete a juice cleanse with a greater sense of energy, so I am hoping the end results will make it all worth it. I am not looking forward to the beet juice, but I am willing to suck it up in the name of fitness.

Check back everyday as I report on my experience with the BluePrint Cleanse. Be prepared for the good, bad, and ugly.

According to Glamour Magazine and recent scientific study, losing weight could be more stress relieving then you may have initially thought. Literally…

As many have said, a healthy mind = a healthy body. Mindfulness and connecting with ones body through Zen exercise such as Yoga or Tai Chi have become increasingly more popular. So much in fact, studies have been implemented to connect psychological health with physical health.

Depression and stress is no stranger to many women. The unforgiving effects of weight fluctuations and loss of energy take a large toll on overall body health. Although exercising can aid in these areas, simply ‘letting go’ has been found to boost efforts.

Intrigued? Scientists found that women who are more willing to forgive typically are less depressed with a healthier level of cholesterol and stable blood pressure compared to those who hold grudges. Impossible right? The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota says it’s entirely possible.

Small steps taken to address and care for your mind and reminders that the past is past, can go a long way.

As the New Year rolls around, reflect on your ability to forgive others and more importantly, yourself. There is no worse enemy than the person staring back in the mirror. Forgive all and start a new with a new mind and a healthier well being!

~famespy Alise