Demi Lovato Opens Up on her Destructive Eating Disorder

Shining the spotlight on the destructive and frightening world of an eating disorder, Demi Lovato has shared her experience in the damaging disorder, which started before she was a teenager. Becoming a poster child for eating disorder recovery, Demi has bravely shared the intimate secrets of her own journey and path to wellness. 

"It was always there, but then I just acted on it at around 8 or 9 years old. I started overeating, compulsively overeating. I would bake cookies and then eat the whole pan. I went from doing that to being unhappy with my body. I went to just completely starving myself and that turned into throwing up and starving myself and it was just this crazy battle going on inside of me," she said.

Lovato, who recalls always wanting to be "very thin," faced torment in school. She said words "played more of a toll on me than if I was physically abused in school. I've always said I wished that they had just hit me in the face and gotten it over with because what they said to me sticks to me to this day and it affected me, (turned) me into the person I am today. I was bullied and they called me fat and they called me horrible things."

Lovato struggled with bulimia as a young girl, which led to cutting. "It was a way of expressing my own shame, of myself, on my own body. I was matching the inside to the outside. And there were some times where my emotions were just so built up, I didn't know what to do. The only way that I could get instant gratification was through an immediate release on myself."

"It got really difficult [and] I would throw up and it would just be blood and it was something that I realised if I don’t stop this, I am going to die."

"I was performing concerts on an empty stomach," she said during the 2010 interview. "I was losing my voice from purging. I was self-medicating. I was not taking medication for depression, and I literally was so emotionally whacked out that I took it out on someone that meant a lot to me."

Receiving help to stop her downward spiral, Demi retreated to a rehabilitation centre in 2010 to work through her demons. Demi admits her path to recovery is not easy and requires constant work to stay healthy. 

"It's a daily thing; you don't get time off from it. And if I feel like myself slipping back into old patterns, I have to ask others for help, which is hard for me to learn, because I really like doing everything on my own," she told Cosmopolitan in May. "I cannot tell you that I have not thrown up since treatment. I cannot tell you that I have not cut myself since treatment. I’m not perfect," she said.

Often thought to be a hereditary mental condition, Lovato’s mum, Dianna, struggled with serious depression. 

Dianna said, "I had a terrible eating disorder that I had for many, many years and I didn’t realise it and I had to face up to the fact that I was suffering as well. And a lot of what [Demi] went through with an eating disorder had to do with what she had seen growing up and I also had severe depression and I ended up asking for help actually they did an intervention with me and said, ‘Mum, you need to get help.’"

Demi reacted to her mother's honesty by supporting her admissions. "I told you she was my hero. There aren't many parents speaking out about how they got through a time when their child was spiraling out of control and how she was able to set an example for parents everywhere by dealing with issues of her own and what she went through... I love you mom and I'm so proud of you."

Through her long journey, Demi feels she can lead others suffering from mental illness to receive the treatment they need.

"My words of encouragement to teen girls that are suffering from eating disorders, self-harm, anything is to get help," she said backstage at Couric's show. "That's the most important thing that you can do for yourself. It can change your life and potentially save your life."

Geordie Shore's Vicky Loses the Party Girl Weight

Following another six-week stint of filming the MTV's Geordie Shore, reality star Vicky Pattison had reached up to 70 kilos after indulging in takeaway and alcohol every night. Admitting she could gain up to 7 kilos each season taping, Vicky had lost her self confidence

"When I am at my heaviest I just don’t feel confident at all. I have all these sexy clothes and I don’t feel like wearing any of them at all."

After a series of unflattering photos were published, Vicky decided to change her unhealthy lifestyle. Dropping from a size 16 to a size 8 in just two months, Vicky cut out alcohol and saturated fat to reshape her body.

Feeling energetic and positive, Vicky is proud of herself and find exercise quite therapeutic. Despite her weight loss triumph, Vicki admits the lifestyle change has been a struggle. ‘It’s a struggle maintaining this body, let alone thinking about losing more weight. It’s a nightmare.’ A confessed carb-lover, she does miss bread and pasta but knows that no one is perfect. She stays motivated by keeping her goal weight as her incentive.

"All I remember is how badly I felt when I couldn't fit in to any of my clothes. I just remember that when I feel like giving up."

The party lifestyle had taken its toll on the 25-year-old

Booze binges have now been swapped for peppermint tea and outdoor workouts. For breakfast, the newly-fit star will have porridge and fresh fruit, spinach and eggwhite omlette or protein pancakes. Lunch will be a salad with lean meat, followed by grilled fish and vegetables for dinner.

Vicky is adamant this lifestyle change will be permanent, saying 'I am a healthy, strong young girl, and I still have a bit more to lose.'

Taking to Twitter, Vicky thanked her fans for the support.

"Can't believe how sweet everyone is being about my weight loss! Thank you - still got work to do but I'm getting there!"

Kim Kardashian's Weight Loss 'The Biggest Challenge Of My Life'

That Twitter pic

After a highly publicized and scrutinized pregnancy, Kim Kardashian has worked hard to regain her fitness and body confidence. Following a strict Atkins Diet program, Kim lost 43 of the 50 pounds she gained while pregnant with baby North. Regular exercise and breast feeding has also helped the reality star to downsize within a few months.

The Akins Diet focuses on consuming a high protein diet with limited carbohydrates, which shifts your body into fat burning mode and revs up your metabolism. Popular 10 years ago, the Atkins Diet has been criticized for its high in fat and cholesterol meal plans, which could negatively affect heart health.

A rep for Atkins told US Magazine, "She is eating lots of lean proteins, healthy fats like nuts and avocado, carbs, fruits, veggies and cheese. She wanted to be a healthy, nursing mom and not toxify her milk with her diet or lose weight too quickly. She's been doing Atkins since her doctor approved it at the end of June."

Just engaged

Newly engaged Kim has even more motivation to reach her goal with glamourous wedding in the works and a fiancé to keep on his toes, saying "you want your guy to think you're really hot." After posting a picture of herself on Twitter wearing a white one-piece, her man Kayne West tweeted 'HEADING HOME NOW.' Sounds like he is already convinced of his wife-to-be's beauty.

It wasn't the pregnancy Kim expected, suffering from many complications carrying baby North, who was born several weeks premature. Experiencing intense scrutiny and criticism during her pregnancy, especially of her weight gain, Kim admitted the bullying wore her down.

“Little by little it would chip away at my soul. I wanted to tune out the media and my public life and ignore it all. This was the biggest challenge of my life, and I still have some to go. Every day I would hear people criticize me, and it would affect me.”

Pregnant Kim Kardashian

Now Kim has lost the weight, she finally feels like herself again, reclaiming her enviable curves. Following an Atkins type diet is a great way to see results immediately. I would recommend eating lean protein at every meal time and limiting carbs to a small serve of brown rice and quinoa. Find out more at The Atkins Website.

Kristen Bell Talks Body After Baby

Kristen Bell has ticked off two major milestones this year; giving birth to her daughter, Lincoln and marrying her baby daddy, Dax Shepard. During such an exciting time in Kristen's life, including returning to movie making, the actress has put returning to her pre-baby body on the back burner. Recognising the mental stress and pressure on women to bounce back into shape, Kristen is filtering out negativity and keeping her focus on her new family.

"The secret to body after baby is flushing down the toilet every notion of body after baby. Honestly!...I made a commitment to not allow my narrative for the year after having a baby to be about my weight. And I think that freed me up and it made me less concerned with all the pressures that revolve around body image. I was like, 'I have a baby. Do you know how awesome that is? It's so radical! Why on earth am I going to be so concerned with my pants size?'"

Pre-baby with now husband Dax Shepard

She is in no rush to return back to the toned figure that caught lots of attention, especially when she flaunted her abs in 'Forgiving Sarah Marshall' and everyone took notice. As a vegetarian of almost two decades, Kristen tries to avoid dairy but isn't jumping onto a restrictive diet plan to lose weight.

"It's like, by the way, don't you want to look like you've had a baby? I'm sitting here with you, I'm crunched over, I have a huge muffin top—who cares?"

Getting back to work post-baby

"Devouring a whole cheesecake with my girlfriends can feel incredible! I'm always going to be the kind of person who treats myself," Kristen has said. To combat her serious sweet tooth, she tries to stay active. "If I can burn 10 calories by avoiding the elevator, I'm all for it," she says. "More flights of stairs means I can eat more candy!"

Busy working, being a mummy and wife, Kristen isn't spending hours in the gym to lose weight but she hasn't opted out of exercising. Three times a week she does a short run (saying over 20 minutes is something to be celebrated!) and adds Pilates and the occasional spin class to the mix. To slim down fast for stepping out, Spanx or "post-surgical compression outfits" have become Kristen's trick.

Brooke Burke's butt workout and morning shake recipe

Brooke Burke sits firmly in place as one of my all-time-favourite fitness inspirations. She takes such good care of her body and it shows in her amazing shape and glowing skin. The 40-year-old takes her fitness seriously and I always look to her for new tips on toning, especially for the butt. While Brooke has released a workout DVD, which I plan to add to my collection, you can find some excellent express exercises to do at home by looking on you tube. I've posted my particular favourite video below, which is a butt burning series of moves that will really tone up your trouble areas. 

Brooke's breakfast contains a shake of coconut water, berries, 1 scoop of protein powder, omega oils and some kale. She blends this together every morning for a great breakfast on-the-go and she also credits this combination to keeping her skin fresh and her body lean.

For more workout tips from the actress and model, check out Fitness Magazine's list of Brooke's favourite gym exercises. 

Get skinny this weekend with inspiration from the Victoria's Secret girls

With the silly season in full force, many of us will be faced with the temptation of Christmas goodies, party drinks, late nights and skipping work outs. If you have indulged a little during the holidays, it helps to have a few detox days to regenerate your body and stay on top of your calorie intake.

The Victoria's Secret fashion parade has hit the blogosphere lately, particularly in regards to the models' diet and fitness routines. While they are admittedly taking things to an extreme level, taking a leaf from their model manual can help you stay on track during the festive time.

Read on for a few solid tips to take from the famous supermodels...


1. Drink 3 litres of water a day to cleanse your system, add some slices of lemon to boost detox effects.
2. Start the day with a fresh vegetable juice, especially if you have been drinking some alcohol during the week. Another good idea is to try a protein shake for breakfast, try Kora Organic's recipe.
3. Get plenty of rest and peaceful sleep, at least 8 hours.
4. Eat lots of vegetables and lean protein, and also try to source organic ingredients.
5. Dry body brush before your shower every day to boost circulation and eliminate cellulite.
6. Try to stick to the 80% healthy 20% indulgence rule. Make sure most of your meals consist of fruit    and vegetables with lean protein and allow yourself a treat once a day to keep you sane.
7. Drink plenty of green tea to boost your metabolism. Aim for 3-4 cups a day.
8. Take a probiotic to keep your digestion in check while indulging over the holidays.
9. Try to exercise for 60 minutes every day to compensate for extra calories with treats and alcohol. Try 35 minutes of the cross trainer and a 30 minute walk in the afternoon.
10. Try one day of detox by only having vegetable juices to cleanse your system.

The beautiful and organic product crusader Miranda Kerr was interviewed by Style.com on some of her favourite healthy foods.


What are some of your tips and tricks as far as staying healthy goes?

"Oh, we could talk about it for hours. But to sum it up, I know what works for me. I am very much into cold-pressed green juice. I also have a protein shake that I drink that is organic rice protein with goji berries … I love avocado. I love blueberries. I love eggs. I love grilled fish. I love spinach. I love garlic. I love organic, slow roast chicken. Coconut oil is great. Macadamia nut oil is great. Almonds are amazing. I mean, we could be here all day. I love food, but very healthy food."

What's your favorite meal?

"One of my favorite meals is a slow roast chicken. I roast the chicken with a whole bunch of garlic [and] at least two or three onions, chopped up. I put some turmeric in there and roast it for seven hours."

Should you use coconut oil in your cooking and baking?

I keep seeing coconut oil popping up in clean eating recipes, used as a substitute for butter or regular oils. I first heard about coconut oil through reading Miranda Kerr's eating regime that includes regular doses of the oil; Miranda is a devoted fan of coconut oil valuing it's health benefits for the body inside and out. Her love for this type of oil was criticized by health experts who have warned of the high saturated fat content in coconuts. But looking at Miranda's incredible body and glowing skin, I wondered who was right on this issue?

Firstly, coconut oil is about 90 percent saturated fat! That’s a much higher percentage than butter (about 64 percent saturated fat), beef fat (40 percent) or even lard (also 40 percent). Too much saturated fat in the diet is unhealthy because it raises “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of heart disease. However, unlike other saturated fats, coconut oil doesn't have a negative effect on cholesterol levels and actually gives “good” HDL cholesterol a boost.

Plant-based oils are more than just fats, of course. Coconut oil, like other plant oils, also contains many antioxidants and other substances that may benefit your health. Coconuts are rich in lauric acid, which has very powerful anti-bacterial / anti-viral properties and is well known to support a healthy immune system and even facilitate brain function.


Here is six easy ways to add the benefits of coconut oil to your daily diet:

1 – Add a tablespoon of coconut oil to your favourite breakfast smoothie

2 – Add a tablespoon to buckwheat or quinoa porridge with a drop of stevia

3 – Use as a spread on your favourite gluten free crackers or bread

4 – Use coconut oil for your stir fries & curries – works wonderfully with Asian & Indian flavours

5 – Roast vegetables with coconut oil & sea salt

6 – Mix coconut oil with raw cacao powder and stevia for a delicious, healthy chocolate topping or dipping sauce

Funny girl Jenna Marbles reveals her diet and fitness secrets

Jenna Marbles is a you tube darling, renowned for her funny and candid views of 'a day in the life' of a modern female.

Jenna tells Shape.com about her diet and exercise regime:

I know you guys ask me all the time about my diet/exercise. I explained in a vlog a little while back that I try to keep a vegan diet 6 days a week and have a cheat day in there so I don’t go cray cray so that still hasn’t changed. But my workouts are always all over the place because I like to keep it new and different. I can’t just go into the gym, do my cardio, lift weights, and repeat every day until I die. That’s not fun to me. 

I like to do different stuff and as I said in my diet/exercise video I usually love to do fitness on demand straight from the TV at my house. (I have Comcast, so it’s under OnDemand and then Fitness and there’s like a million billion things in there to keep you busy from your house). But this month I’m doing Bob Harper’s bikini workout from Shape Magazine and let me tell you, this jumpoff will make you break a sweat for sure.

You do all of the moves/reps as listed with no rest in between, then repeat the entire set for a second time 2-3 days a week. 4-5 times a week you get your cardio in, know what I mean? I love the Biggest Loser, so I thought I’d give my 2nd favorite trainer a shot (Jillian still reigns supreme, she’s got some killer DVD’s and workouts OnDemand for those of you that are interested).

Tryin to get my butt to look all tight and shit.

Check out the Shape.com workout from Bob Harper.

Body confidence taught from Mother Monster Lady Gaga who hits back at those calling her 'fat'

Ignoring her body bullies, Lady Gaga has held her head high and kept up her usual Gaga ways in wearing risqué fashion choices and looking damn proud while working it. Rumours are rife that Gaga has gained over 10 kilograms in the past six months, flaunting a noticeably curvier figure than her former waif-like self.

Looking thin in her Born This Way video

What is ironic is that Gaga looks like any normal girl walking down the street, she is cute, in shape and seems happy in her relationship. I am confused why this attracts negative attention? What should be negative is women suffering from eating disorders, which Gaga admits to falling victim to since she was 15 years old, including battling bulimia and anorexia.

I saw Gaga in concert a few months ago and I thought she looked positively tiny. She certainly could have gained weight without any problem considering she looked almost too thin. Although to me, if you want to be thin or curvier, I don't see why it is someone else's business to judge unless you are unhealthy or in need of help. Gaga agrees with this philosophy free of judgement and created the Born This Way Foundation to inspire bravery and a body revolution.

Gaga commented her boyfriend, gorgeous Taylor Kinney (pictured left) loves her body curvier.

Gaga wrote on her blog, 'When I eat and am healthy and not so worried about my looks. I'm happy. Happier then I've ever been. I am not going to go on a psycho-spree because of scrutiny. This is who I am. And I am proud at any size.'

The talented and beautiful superstar is obviously happy in love and content with herself, which is a exquisite feeling for any human being.

I love the gorgeous picture of them together below and the one underneath, where they played up a mock wedding for one of her videos.

Miley Cyrus brags on the benefits of gluten-free eating but does it really equal weight loss?

So everyone has noticed Miley's recent weight loss, which I must say has now been superseded by her rather dramatic hair transformation. I don't like her new hair so I am not going to post a pic of it! But google it if you haven't seen it already. Miley is attributing her new weight loss to eliminating gluten from her diet, something which I have also done in my own eating plan. Whether you are allergic to gluten or not, some people can be gluten sensitive and find their digestive systems work more efficiently without eating any gluten.

In terms of eliminating gluten from your diet for direct health benefits, I don't think it can be measured in black and white. Gluten is only bad for people who are either intolerant or sensitive to the substance, which is found mostly in products with wheat. If your body doesn't have any difficulty processing gluten, you do not need to cut it from your diet. What I think attributes to weight loss in those who cut gluten is by following the gluten-free diet you tend to avoid heavy carb foods like pizza, white bread, pastries and sugary cereals.

Gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean healthy; gluten-free foods can be high in GI and low in dietary fibre meaning you can end up eating more calories than you need. If you can tolerate a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, go right ahead! Wholemeal breads that free from preservatives are great for you, keep you satisfied and prevent bowel cancer.

For me, the gluten-free diet works wonders for my stomach health and comfort. I have lost weight following the program but I mostly eat a clean diet of fruit and vegetables with protein. I don't eat a lot of 'gluten-free' products except for a little gluten-free bread and rice crackers. Gluten-free muffins, cookies and cakes can be just as fattening as the regular versions. It certainly does not fast-track you to skinny.

Ellie Gonsalves' Clean Eating Plan

Eating clean has become the newest phenomena in healthy eating and has many celebrity advocates. I love eating clean, particularly as I have seen huge changes in my body since eliminating sugar, gluten and dairy from my daily diet. Eating clean helps you to focus on feeding your body with the most nutritious foods that are most beneficial in keeping your body running efficiently.

What does eating clean mean exactly? Well basically eating clean is the practice of consuming whole, natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. It also means staying away from man-made foods consisting of sugar, bad fats (hydrogenated, trans-fat), preservatives, and any other ingredients that are unnecessary. Foods like white bread, pre-packaged frozen meals, fried foods and chocolate bars are obvious no-no's. An easy way to remember if a food is clean; "if man made it, don't eat it."

I have an instagram account, which I love dearly, not only for my own little collection of treasured snaps but to see my friend's creativeness and learn tips from the leaders in fitness and nutrition. One of the lovely ladies I follow is the gorgeous Ellie Gonsalves, a beautiful Australian fitness model. She is one of my biggest body inspirations as she has earned her lean and curvy figure through hard work, dedication and eating well.

Recently on her own blog, http://elliegonsalves.blogspot.com.au she posted an article on her 'Clean Eating Plan', giving us a run-down on what she eats to get in shape. Ellie emphasises that sticking to a planned daily routine is important to ensuring you stay on track with your diet, and consistency is key.

You will also notice meals are eaten frequently throughout the day, which helps your metabolism stay in high intensity and not store fat. Ellie's mantra is 'do not skip meals!' as it slows your metabolism, and no one wants that. I also think skipping meals leads you up for a binge later and meal preparation is key. You know how it goes, you have eaten celery all day just to stuff yourself with everything in the pantry when you get home. Don't set yourself up for failure!

ELLIE GONSALVES EATING PLAN

Meal 1 – 7:00am - Breakfast

- 1 piece of organic gluten-free light rye toast + squeeze of lemon + ¼ Avocado (No Butter) + banana

OR

-A shake with half a cup of natural fresh mixed berries (no added sugar), 1 cup of raw oats + 1 scoop of protein from The Supplement Den + 1 cup of water..

- Warm water with lemon & freshly sliced ginger

- 1 scoop of Pharma-Greens with water

Meal 2 – 9:30am – Snack

- 1 medium apple + 15g natural almonds + a few goji berries

Meal 3 – 12:30pm - Lunch

50g of chick peas or 4 bean mix + salad

OR

- Salad + gluten free light rye bread made into a sandwich (Use small amount of avocado as a substitute for butter if you need it)

OR

Organic lentil pattie with sliced zucchini, carrot, garlic & onion

- 1 cup of organic green tea with freshly sliced ginger

Meal 4 – 3:30pm - Snack

- 1 cup of steamed vegetables + tofu + lentils + 4 bean mix

- 1 cup of organic green tea with squeeze of lemon with freshly sliced

Supplement Den Pre Workout Shake (20 mins before workout) –

Supplement Den During Workout Shake (Consume during workout) -

Supplement Den Post Workout Shake – 6pm (Straight after workout) –

Meal 5 – 7pm – Dinner

Vegetarian stiryfry + lentils + chickpeas+ vegetables (zucchini, broccoli, carrot, baby corn, organic tofu, squash & spinach) with garlic, chives, chilli, coriander, lemongrass & onion

OR

Veggie pattie with cooked spinach, chickpeas in an organic wrap with a side of tofu

OR

Mediterranean salad (Lentils, chick peas, leafy greens, tomatoes, spinach, spanish onion with steamed vegetables)

-       1 cup of organic chamomile tea before bed

Notes: 

• I stay away from coffee & dairy products - Milk, cheese ect.. 
• I drink 2- 3 litres of water per day + 1 litre for every hour of exercise done 
• For best results on this plan – No Alcohol is the way to go! 
• I allow myself 1 meal off per week. 
• I take flaxseed oil + coconut oil gel capsules + hair, nails & skin supplement + a multi-vitamin every morning with breakfast
• Stick to this plan 100%. 
• Avoid store bought juices, coffee, milk & sugary drinks/energy drinks

Jennifer Hawkins Diet and Body Advice

The former Miss Universe and model says no to booze, does regular boxing and Pilates classes, avoids salt in her diet and keeps up her water intake to maintain her glorious figure.

Jen displayed the results of her discipline and hard work while shooting her new Cozi by Jennifer Hawkins bikini collection. She shares her secrets to maintaining her shape. 

"I laid off alcohol for three weeks and I feel good for that. I always am quite healthy but I like to have a glass of wine every now and again. I have a new (personal) trainer, so that has been really fun to do something different. I've been boxing and doing weight training and doing lots of repetitions. I've also been doing yoga and Pilates.

I find that sticking to a low-carbohydrate diet most of the time works for me; it doesn't work for everyone but if I make an effort to eat more protein I'm not as hungry as often. Carbs taste good, but my body doesn't work as well if I have too many.

I do a little bit of cooking, but it's purely for practical purposes, not anything fancy – I wish I could!

When I'm at home one of the meals I love to cook is really lean mince with broccoli and a nice sauce. That's my favourite meal, I always love it. Breakfast is usually either Special K or Weet-Bix, or I'll have eggs on toast. For lunch I have a chicken or tuna salad or a beautiful sandwich with wholemeal bread.

Diet is particularly important before a shoot or parade, so then I really take note of the amount of carbohydrates I'm eating.

Socialising is a challenge when it comes to my diet – when you go out to lunch or dinner there's always amazing food. You might have a drink, too, or a bit of bread on the side – it's so hard to say no.

If I have a shoot the next day or coming up soon, I'll just have one cocktail and get my girlfriends to keep the bread basket away from me. They're good about things like that – they understand.

Exercise makes me feel energised. Even just getting outside for a walk helps to release stress. It's like a moving mediation – you come back a different person.

I work out most days. It depends on my schedule. If I can, I will exercise six days a week. On average I do cardio five times a week, either walking or running, and I love Pilates so I do that twice a week, too.

Pilates is great because I can target the areas of my body that I want to work on. I use the cadillac – that's a special piece of Pilates equipment, also known as a trapeze table – plus another machine called a reformer, and I do mat work.

It's good for your core. The day after my sessions I'm really sore but that's good because I know it's working.

If I'm sluggish, which isn't too often, I have a rest... that's your body telling you to rest. I eat pretty well, so I feel good most of the time. Sometimes the words Cozi Cozi Cozi come into my head and boom, I'm up.

To quickly drop a dress size, eliminate carbs. I try to avoid any processed foods and white food in my normal diet, but cut it out completely when I'm getting ready for a swimwear shoot. The white food ban isn't a strict rule because life gets pretty boring when you make too many rules, but it's a great one to keep in mind.

Also, drink lots of water in the lead-up to a big day — be it a wedding or a bikini unveiling — but don't drink so much on the actual day that you will be feel bloated. And replace your milky cappuccinos with macchiatos — I'm a big fan of caffeine and don't think you need to cut it out of your diet.

I might have a period where I know I'm not doing swimwear so I can have a choc top at the movies, but I don't really go crazy on the naughty food — I don't really enjoy the aftermath.

Why Lea Michele became vegan + a vegan dessert idea

Lea believes what you put into your body is important; a view I think we should all share. She credits her vegan diet to giving her plenty of energy saying, "it makes me feel healthy and bright."


The Glee star told Glamour UK that she loves to cook and eats a lot, "but really well. Every morning, I make a tofu scramble with soy cheese; lunch and dinner is usually a salad, with lots of vegetables, and pasta. I love to cook. I make a great baked ziti pasta.” 

Eating vegan basically means consuming only plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains. Since these foods are so low in calories, "counting calories is simply not necessary!" says celebrity nutritionist Cynthia Pasquella.

In fact, studies have shown that followers of a plant-based diet are significantly thinner, says Pasquella, whose clients include Debra Messing, 42, and Sandra Bullock, 46.

Other health benefits include lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels (a major perk for Bill Clinton, 64, who recently adopted a vegan diet and lost weight for Chelsea's wedding). Plus the increase of nutrients like vitamins A, B, and E is great for clearing skin, promoting healthier hair and nails and boosting energy. It's no wonder Lea , who must rehearse for hours on end for Glee, credits her vegan diet for helping her keep up with the strenuous schedule.

If you're interested in going vegan but are feel the whole change might be too drastic, try one of these simple switches:

- Participate in Meatless Mondays. Just give up meat and any animal products on Monday and concentrate on plant-based meals.

- Make plants your main course and have meat as the side.

- Swap cow milk out for almond or coconut milk.

- Use vegan beauty products. Urban Decay has a collection of vegan beauty items including their best selling Eyeshadow Primer Potion and 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil. Tarte carries PETA-certified vegan cosmetics like foundation, mascara, and primers.

For a tasty vegan dessert, try this delicious Chai Chia Seed Pudding!

Chai Chia Seed Pudding

1 cup almond milk
1 banana
1/2 tsp cinnamon
dash nutmeg
dash cayenne
dash sea salt
dash organic vanilla extract

1/4 cup chia seeds
optional: cacao nibs, hemp seeds, shredded coconut, other nuts/seeds, sliced banana

Combine first set of ingredients in blender until smooth. Combine this mixture with chia seeds in small mixing bowl or serving bowl, making sure it’s well mixed and no clumps of chia seeds remain. Allow to sit 10-15 minutes, until seeds have soaked up liquid and pudding is thick. Top with any other optional ingredients you desire. 

Terry Biviano, the wedded WAG

If you live in Australia and own a Foxtel box, you may have watched WAG nation. I imagine the show is meant to be a comedy but I don't know to what extent it 'tries' to be funny, or is just funny in it's pure premise.

The glories of being a professional athlete's girlfriend/fiance/wife are 'showcased', telling tales that may or may not impress you: such as attending fashion week to sit in the fifth row or occasionally scoring a corporate box to watch your man play his sport.

The main WAG Terry Biviano, although she flaunts an irritatingly affected accent, is actually quite an interesting and likeable character. I am shocked a developed this appreciation for her but she won me over! She has set up her own successful exclusive shoe business and seems to have a truly loving and sweet relationship with her now husband Anthony Minichiello, who is an Aussie rugby star.

Terry recently wedded her sweetheart Anthony in a lavish ceremony, wearing an exquisite J'Aton gown.

Yes, I slightly want her life...

Jessica Simpson, when she was a newlywed in daisy dukes

Okay so the last few years for Jessica Simpson may have been quite different from the way we first go to know her, but Miss Simpson is still my poster girl for how to get your body into the best shape of your life. There is no questioning that when Jess was preparing for donning her daisy dukes, she trained intensely and reshaped her eating habits.

Let's take a trip down memory lane shall we....


In 2005, Jess was on a strict regime to ensure she did justice to the Daisy Duke character.


"When I found out I got the role, I went straight to the gym," says Simpson, who hired trainer Michael Alexander, a longtime friend, to work with her six days a week for a month before the shoot and three to four times a week during filming. 

"Any character that has a pair of shorts named after her, you've gotta at least try to make the shorts look as good as you possibly can." Jess also realized her derriere was going to be plastered on 50-ft. screens everywhere, and that was the ultimate motivation.

The actress also said no to her food favorites like bread and banana pudding and adopted what Alexander calls the "Don't Eat Crap Diet": a South Beach Diet-style low-carb, high-protein menu of mostly grilled chicken, fish and green vegetables. 

"I can't deprive myself of things because then I obsess about it and end up eating it anyway," she said. If she did go overboard with her treats, Jess would do an extra intense workout to compromise. "I watched my diet and was in the gym to walk proud," she says. "My body is definitely an accomplishment."

Now Miss Simpson has just had her first child, baby girl Maxwell, with soon to be husband Eric Johnson. So cute.