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LOOK BETTER: Say bye-bye to your belly once and for all, sister! Want to get rid of that flabby stomach? Me too. It’s simple: Drink more water and cut out refined sugar. My motto: If it’s white, do not bite…well, unless it is a bite of egg whites, low-fat cottage cheese or low-fat, low-sugar yogurt. Okay, so it’s not entirely simple and, of course, you must get your butt to the gym or at least move that butt—and the rest of your body parts—five or so days a week. Okay, forget my advice and go straight to the expert: Lori Sawyer. Lori’s “Gut Buster” plan shows you how to get rid of that puffy pooch now and forever. |
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LIVE BETTER: Ditch the chemicals. A lot of makeup is just plain toxic—and that’s so 2009! Did you know that more than 61 percent of lipsticks contain lead; phthalates in many baby lotions, nail polishes and perfumes have been linked to infertility, birth defects, breast cancer and more; and there’s mercury in mascara? Not cool. All of this scary but necessary information and more is detailed in Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry by Stacy Malkan ($10.85, www.amazon.com). The book exposes the standards and practices of the still-unregulated beauty industry and the challenges it has to take action for its decades of gross negligence. Malkan, who was inspired to write this must-read book after realizing that she had been exposing herself to 230 different chemicals before she left the house each morning, has also co-founded the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org). Every woman needs to check out this site now. |
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FEEL BETTER: Drink wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is definitely making yet another comeback. Popular in the ’60s with the peace and love set, the über-juice had a resurgence in the ’90s and is now back again to deliver a vitamin-packed wallop to all those who can stomach its not-so-yummy taste. But I say, taste schmaste! Just two ounces of wheatgrass is the equivalent of consuming three and a half pounds of vegetables—and, honestly, the taste grows on you. Shoot it straight or dump it into your favorite smoothie—this wonder-drink contains vitamins A, B12, C and E, plus calcium, iron, phosphorus, folic acid and more. It also contains a big ol’ dose of phytochemicals, those naturally occurring compounds that prevent disease and are believed to attack cancer cells. It’s a big-time detoxifier, too, cleansing the colon, liver and bloodstream as well as strengthening the immune system. Oh, and don’t be fooled by the word wheat. There’s no gluten in this magic potion. Cheers to your health! On a side note, the jury’s out about whether or not it’s too powerful for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, so if that’s you, check with your ob-gyn. |
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DO BETTER: Get rid of fear. There is a book that everyone must read. It’s called The Monster Is Real: How to Face Your Fears and Eliminate Them Forever. The monster refers to your ego—but not in a Freudian way, per se. Substitute darkness, bad tendencies, negativity, etc., in for the word ego, if you like. It’s a book based on kabbalistic principles (as in kabbalah—as in Madonna, yes), but even if kabbalah (which is not a religion, but a set of spiritual tools) isn’t your bag, baby, the book is so powerful that you really should read it. It’s a little bitty thing, too. It will not take you long to get through, but it will change your life and free you from the grips of fear (panic, negativity, desperation, bad feelings, anxiety, etc.) that are holding you back in ways you know and ways you don’t even realize. Seriously, folks—get this book. ($9.95, The Monster Is Real: How to Face Your Fears and Eliminate Them Forever, www.store.kabbalah.com) |
