Inspiration: Tosca Reno

Tosca Reno has been a huge inspiration to me!  I first saw Tosca in Oxygen Magazine several years ago. She began her fitness journey when she was 40 years old!  She's a perfect example of someone who started later in life, changed her lifestyle, and reaped the rewards.  It's never too late to start and she's living proof.  Tosca is also the author of The Eat Clean Diet.

In The Eat Clean Diet Recharged (the updated version of The Eat Clean Diet) Tosca goes over the general guidelines of clean eating.  She explains what it is, how you do it, and why you should do it.  Clean eating is basically just eating healthy- whole foods that are as close to nature as possible.  Surprisingly most people don't know what healthy is.  This book breaks down the nutrition strategy used by fitness models and athletes to get into top physical condition.


Some Basic Rules:


- Eat every 2-3 hours!  You should consume 5 or 6 smaller meals throughout the day.  Combine protein and complex carbs at every meal as well as some starchy carbs like oatmeal to keep your engine burning.
- Avoid processed, packaged, preserved foods!  Shop the perimeter of the store: produce, bakery (for bread- not cake!), meat/poultry/seafood, and dairy.  The middle of the store is generally where all the unhealthy foods are located.
- Watch your sodium intake!  They sneak that stuff in to everything!  Sodium, otherwise known as salt, is not good for you.  On top of that it will make you bloat and give you a "soft" appearance.  Cutting sodium out of your diet will help you slim down and feel less bloated.
- Sugar is the devil!  Avoid sugar when possible.  No, I'm not talking about fructose, fruit sugar, I'm talking about the processed white stuff.  You don't need it.  I know we all have cravings, but do your best to find sweet treats that are also healthy for you.
- Stay Hydrated!  Drinking plenty of water will prevent your body from retaining water.  If your body is afraid it may not get more water for a while it will hold on to the water you do drink adding water weight and bloat.  Beverages that contain caffeine contribute to dehydration.

The book goes into much more detail and also includes some great recipes and meal plans to get you started.  Tosca has several cookbooks as well.

Have you heard of The Eat Clean Diet?  Found any recipes you'd like to share??