Cleo, July, 2007

Fashion Week Food Diaries, Pg 76

When I saw this article mentioned on the cover, I was cynical enough to think, “yeah right, like they’ll tell the truth about what they eat”. Seems I was wrong, because if this is an improvement on what people actually eat … well, I have no words.

Five different people’s week long food diaries are published here - a socialite, a model, a pr guru, event co-ordinator and a fashion editor. And the model is probably the one who eats the best food, most regularly. I could never work in the fashion industry - such long breaks between meals would make me murder someone within the first couple of days. My advice is not to emulate anything you read in this article.

Instead, turn to The Lazy Girl’s Guide to eating and exercise, Pg 136, where the three recipes on the first page are ones I’d really like to try, especially the spinach soup which sounds fab. While I don’t necessarily agree with Demi Moore’s idea of all food being raw, when it’s delicious, and it’s incorporated into a balanced diet including cooked foods, I say bring it on!

Over the page, there’s a great Mexican recipe for marinated chicken with great salsa. I love Mexican food (but not that crap masquerading as Mexican) and there’s a list of reasons for why it’s great for you to eat. A lot of these tie in to the In Style article on healthy eating for great skin, so “ole”!

There’s an interesting paragraph on a Blackmore’s supplement called Sugar Balance. It allegedly helps beat afternoon sugar cravings, by enhancing chromium absorption, which balances sugar levels in the body, reduces cravings for sweet foods, and replaces nutrients needed for energy, which are lost when you up your exercise quotient. If you struggle to control yourself around a packet of chocolate biscuits (or cake of the day) around 3pm, maybe this is the solution for you. I’m certainly intrigued by the idea, and will be investigating further.

The last page pitches one of my favorite exercise theories - use your leg muscles, and your workout will be far more effective. Your legs are the biggest muscle group you have, and any exercise using them burns heaps of energy, and creates a kick on effect for the rest of your body. Men especially seem to dislike doing leg exercises, but when you ignore them, you’re robbing yourself of the best effect you can get - and a great butt as well!

Two leg exercises are shown here, “shopping trolley squats” and wall sits. Love wall sits, and if you want strong thighs and endurance, you can’t get a better exercise than this (especially if you’re going skiing this winter). I also love squats, but this picture shows the most extreme knee position I’ve ever seen, and I really question the technique suggested here. My tips for squats - keep your weight through the back of your heels, and stick your bottom out. You should be able to wiggle your toes without upsetting your balance. Don’t do the crazy lifted heels version here, unless you’ve been taught how to do it properly, especially if you have any type of knee problem.

I agree that the best exercises are ones you can do anywhere, and compound exercises (ones using lots of muscles versus something like bicep curls which is a single joint or isolation exercise) are far more efficient at burning energy. You just need good technique when you do them.

Great recipes, good advice, slightly dodgy technique, I rate it ***

No shame in coming last, Pg 141

I always say I love AJ Rochester’s articles, and I’m saying it here again. Read it and enjoy.