JESSICA SIMPSON'S RECENT WEIGHT LOSS

Look what I found on the red carpet this week... it's a first celeb who's totally ready for bikini season! 

Jessica Simpson has been on a weight loss journey the past year and it looks like she's close to reaching her destination. The mommy of two showed off a slimmed down and toned body at The John Varvatos 11th Annual Stuart House Benefit in West Hollywood this weekend. The bright yellow dress and the big smile can only mean one thing, Jessica is feeling good about herself and wants to prove to critics and haters she's back to her old self!  

A quick reminder of how Jessica looked pre- weight loss and pregnant of her second child.

Here is how she looked like in October 2013, a couple of months after giving birth. Jessica already lost a lot of weight.

Jessica Simpson is obviously proud of her hard work and results, here she's posing for an Instagram picture in the gym.

And back in February the singer was looking amazing as well. Here she was showing off her defined arms and legs in a Weight Watchers commercial.

It seems as if Jessica is very motivated to become a sexy mommy and is putting in a lot of work! Being a spokesperson for Weight Watchers must also help to stay motivated. In the past I've noticed WW being one of the most successful diet programs amongst people in my direct environment. It is known for being a healthy lifestyle plan that promotes a variated diet with cheat meals once in a while, which makes it easier to stick to than popular crash diets. 

I really hope Jessica can reach her goal (if she hasn't yet) and finds inner peace with her weight. She certainly has had to deal with a lot more criticism about her weight and looks than necessary during her career and pregnancies! 

x x x

BEYONCE WEIGHT LOSS IN 2014

There's no doubt about it, Beyonce is one sexy woman at any weight. Beyonce is one of the lucky ones who was blessed with a great proportioned hourglass body with amazing curves. The singer, along with other curvy celebrities like Kim K and Jlo, have inspired many women to be proud of their curves and embrace them instead of hiding them. 

However, since performing at the Grammys 2014 Beyonce's body has been the subject of many conversation. She seemed to look much slimmer and very toned. This past weekend her recent weight loss was again noticeable when B showed up at the Pre-Super Bowl concert wearing a transparent tight black dress. 

Many fans were stunned when a very thin Beyonce took the stage at the Grammys two weeks ago. People started saying she had taken her weight loss too far. 

Beyonce at Pre-Super Bowl Concert

At her controversial Drunk in love performance at the Grammys 2014

You can really see the weight loss in her legs. You can notice the muscle definition much better and also the gap between her thighs has become bigger. 

Exactly one year ago Beyonce looked like this at the Super Bowl 2013

Her legs looked stronger and thicker.

And here's the Partition singer in Brazil in September 2013.

So how did she loose the weight? In December 2013 Jay-Z and Beyonce held a physical and spiritual cleanse by cutting out meat and animal products out of their diet for three weeks. This might have been the start of her body transformation. Beyonce's trainer Marco Borges said she still eats one vegan meal a day to maintain the weight loss. Which is a nice idea for everyone, diet or not diet, it will make you eat more veggies (and vitamins!) than you would normally eat. He also added that consistency is the key to success and that he loves running sprint intervals for quick cardio sessions and running stairs. 

I personally think she looks amazingly fit right now, probably in best shape since having her baby. But she definitely doesn't need to loose any more weight! I wouldn't believe it's done healthy anymore since Beyonce is naturally built curvy and not a size zero... 

What do you think of Queen B's transformation? 

x x x

TIPS ON MAINTAINING YOUR SUMMER BODY THROUGH FALL & WINTER

Weight gain during fall and winter months isn't just a scary myth, be afraid cause the extra pounds are very real! Cold makes us hide inside in warm and lazy environments and less sunlight makes us feel down and moody, we try to compensate the winter blues by eating our favorite comfort food.
There have been studies that have proven the average person will gain up to seven pounds during the colder seasons of the year. Are you dreading to loose those extra pounds by the end of winter? Well I have some tips that will help you keep it tight and make it easy to hold on to your hot summer body!

TIP 1 -The first and probably most important tip is to stay motivated!
In the summer you can find motivation everywhere. Looking your best for that best friend's Summer wedding, going on vacation and wanting to fit in that new neon bikini, the pool parties during the weekends...

When it gets colder, it also gets harder to find that motivation you need to push yourself diet and working out wise . This is why it's important to find the true reason for wanting a fit physique. Also remember that it's way easier next Spring to reach your ideal Summer body when you have a head start because you kept working out throughout colder months!

TIP 2 - Maintain your diet
During Summer our diet consists of healthier and overall less food. We crave refreshing, light products like salads and veggies. Fresh fruit is more accessible and less expensive, it's easier to hold on to a balanced and nutritious diet. A lot of the healthy foods will no longer be in season which will lead to increasing prices during Winter. More difficult yes, impossible no. Look for fruits and vegetables in season like citrus fruits, apples, cabbage and broccoli. And switch your salad for a nice bowl of homemade soup or a wok dish.

TIP 3 - Reward yourself
Do not forget why you started losing weight or started your healthy lifestyle journey. When you had a good week or month reward yourself with a treat that is something other than food. For example a new running T-shirt or a pair of shoes. And don't feel guilty about it, you deserve this reward. This trick will keep you motivated throughout the year!

TIP 4 - Get some sunlight
Go outside for a walk with the dog or go shopping with friends. Even when the temperatures are below zero the sun can give you energy and brighten up your mood. Just half an hour of sunlight a day will elevate your state of mind and keep you from munching on sweets.

I hope you found these tips useful and are motivated to hold on to your summer body throughout the whole year!

Thanks for reading and good luck! 

x x x

CHRISTINA AGUILERA RECENT WEIGHT LOSS

Christina Aguilera showed up at a "The Voice panel discussion" looking amazing in a flirty short pink dress. She looked very bright and summery in her girly ensemble, but the dress wasn't the eye catcher of the evening, Christina's sexy slender body was!

The last couple of months Christina has been putting in effort to loose weight after dealing with a lot of criticism on her weight. Although the singer said multiple times in interviews to be proud of her voluptuous curves, "Actually, the challenge I've always has is being too thin, so I love that now I have a booty, and obviously I love showing my cleavage.", she eventually gave in to the pressure of the media and started dropping the pounds. And now she's finally able to show off the results. 

So how exactly did Miss Aguilera get her skinny body back? According to a friend, all by herself. Christina signed up for the Fresh Diet Program, which gives you a set amount of calories and nutritious foods to choose from for your daily meals. "She did it all on her own. She goes online and picks out her own food."

Here's a look at Christina Aguilera's recent weight loss and her weight through out the years. 

2000

2006

2008

2010

2012

Beginning of 2013

March 2013

May 2013

Now

Although Christina looks great and seems to be at a healthy weight, I hope she did get to this point by living by a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet and regular exercise. The singer has been known to be a yo-yo dieter, and quitting a crash diet can make her weight go up as soon as it went down. Besides that I hope Christina enjoys the attention she's getting now and gives all the critics the big middle finger! 

Being bullied for your weight, too skinny or too fat, should never be tolerated. It's sad the media makes big money off celebs who gained or lost weight, which will only keep promoting unhealthy lifestyles, crash dieting, smoking and eating disorders amongst young women and men. 

What do you think of Christina's transformation?  

x x x

BEAUTY FOOD

HAIR & NAILS

KIWI - Kiwis contain vitamin C, which is critical for circulation to the scalp and supports the tiny blood vessels that feed the follicles of your hair. 

SALMON & AVOCADO - Both ingredients are rich in protein and vitamin D, which are essential to get strong hair and nails. Both also contain omega 3, which are fatty acids the body can't produce itself, and is necessary to grow hair.

WALNUTS - Also contains omega 3, but besides that these nuts are rich in biotin and vitamin E, this helps your hair and nails from DNA damage. Walnuts also help to keep your natural hair color rich. 

EGGS - Not only are eggs great for gym fanatics because of the high level of protein, they're also great for your hair. Eggs contain zinc and iron. Which a lot of women lack of and is one of the biggest causes of hair loss amongst women. 

GREEK YOGURT - Contains protein and vitamin D (which keeps your hair follicles healthy). 

SKIN

YOGURT -

Low-fat dairy products contain lots of vitamin A which is important for healthy looking skin. But be careful with milk consumption, it has been shown that too much milk can lead to acne and clogged pores. 

WHOLE GRAINS -

High fiber foods help your body hold water and are the richest source of healthy skin promoting nutrients. Whole grains have compounds used to make skin firming elastin and collagen.

ALMONDS -

Almonds are packed full of vitamin E and healthy fats. They lower your cholesterol and keep your cell membranes strong and intact. They're great for youthful looking skin.

BLUEBERRIES -

These delicious berries are very known for slowing down the aging process.

SALMON -

Not only is salmon great for your hair, it also works wonders for you skin. The omega-3 keep your cell membranes healthy and the walls of the cells strong. This way the water is locked in the cell, making your skin look more plump and vibrant. 

SPINACH -

This under appreciated veggie helps repair skin cells and slow down skin cancer cells. It also restores cells that have been damaged by the sun because of the lutein, fiber and folate.

WEIGHT

COFFEE - Coffee can help improve physical performance and help burn fat. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and raises the metabolism. Of course you can't consume caffeine unlimited. An average of 2-3 cups a day is recommended.

GRAPEFRUIT - There are lots of crash diets using grapefruits as main ingredient. But without changing you diet and just eating half a grapefruit before every meal can help you lose up to a pound a week. A compound in the tangy fruit can lower insulin ( a fat-storage hormone) and can lead to weight loss. Grapefruits are also a great source of protein and water.

OATS - Oats are rich in fiber and eating them in the morning helps you feel full throughout the day. Oats are healthy carbs that boost the metabolism and burn fat.  

GREEN TEA - This type of tea is well known in plenty of weight loss books. It is filling like water, and contains antioxidants that will speed up your fat burn and calorie burn. 5 cups a day can help you lose twice as much weight.

TEETH

APPLE -

In general raw fruit and vegetables are great for your teeth. They have a fibrous nature which requires a lot of chewing. An apple in particular is nature's toothbrush. Eating an apple stimulates your gums and increases saliva flow in the mouth, this prevents cavity buildup as it cleanses the teeth surface. 

CELERY -

Celery is a great weapon to control bacteria inside your mouth. While eating celery, you will also produce more saliva which prevents plaque production. 

STRAWBERRIES -

Strawberries have an acid content, this may sound unhealthy but it can actually brighten and whiten up your teeth. How? Mash up a ripe strawberry and dip your toothbrush in it, then brush your teeth softly and carefully.

COCOA -

No, I'm not saying you should eat 20 snicker bars a day! But cocoa is good for your teeth. It is filled with a substance that helps to reduce gum inflammation. Dark chocolate is an excellent choice to prevent tooth decay, and to relax after a stressful day of course!

GUM -

The only condition is it has to be sugar-free gum. So put away the pink and blue Bubblicious sweet gums and chew on some sugar frees to degrade tooth enamel. When chewing for a long time you are also exercising and will strengthen your jaw.

I hope you found this useful and will remember some of my tips next time you're doing your groceries. And to end with a cliché, you are what you eat! 

x x x

Sources and more info on Beauty Food:

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/hair-styling/top-10-foods-for-healthy-hair

http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/best-worst-skin-foods

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-02/why-coffee-good-you-here-are-7-reasons

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20475957_14,00.html

http://healthmeup.com/photogallery-healthy-living/healthy-foods-20-best-foods-for-strong-teeth-and-bones/19488