Jessica Alba's Abs: Then and Now

Jessia Alba will be in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For this summer. New promo pics show that her abs are just as ferocious as they were in the original movie... see for yourself

Almost ten years after Jessica Alba starred as sensitive stripper Nancy Callahan in Sin City, she’s reprising that racy role in this summer's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. And while the 32-year-old’s personal life has changed drastically—she’s now a wife and mother of two, which she discussed with us in an interview last year—a just-released promo shot shows that she has stayed ridiculously fit. Seriously, check out those two pictures above: Can you tell which one is from this year, and which is from a decade ago? Yeah, neither could we. (Here's the answer: The one on the left is from the original movie; the one on the right is from this year's film. Incredible!)

The actress revealed to E! Online a few basic rules she abides by: stocking up on organic produce, drinking tons of water, being active as much as possible. Those fabulous abs don’t just sprout up on their own, of course. When she was a Women's Health cover star last year, she revealed to us that her favorite workouts include dance classes, cycling classes, and sprint workouts. Those activities certainly can't hurt, either!

Feeling covetous of Jessica Alba's enviable abdominals? Get started on these killer abs workouts, stat:

The 15-Minute Standing Workout for Flat Abs

6 Moves for Strong and Toned Abs

The 5-Minute No-Crunches Workout for Incredible Abs

 

 

 

3 Easy Hair Tips from Giada De Laurentiis

The celebrity chef dishes up her best pointers for gorgeous locks

Giada De Laurentiis is known for her winning recipes and charm. But we've got to say: She has some seriously winning hair, too!

Giada is currently a Clairol Natural Instincts spokesperson, and fittingly, her hair color of choice from their line is a food: Hot Cocoa, with a few lighter pieces added in. "I feel like [the color] highlights my skin and my eyes," she says. "And I think that's what, really, people look for. A lot of women just want their skin to glow and their eyes to pop, and the color of your hair has a lot to do with that."

Check out the video for three more of Giada's tips for shiny, healthy hair:

Use for embed where you don't want auto play

 

More from Women's Health:
14 Foods for Healthy Hair That's Beyond Gorgeous
Why Gisele Doesn't Own a Hairbrush
11 Tips for Voluminous, Healthy Hair

4 Juicing Mistakes You Might Be Making (and How to Fix Them!)

Read this before you put anything in that blender

Sipping your nutrients has been crazy popular for a while now. And it's no surprise—the It drink can provide you with loads of health benefits by upping your intake of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. The problem is, there's a lot of confusion about how to juice. Some people start with the go-big-or-go-home mentality with juice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Others add so many juices to their diet that it totally negates the health benefits. No matter what your juicing dilemma, we’re here to help. Here are four juicing fails you'll want to avoid:

Going All Or Nothing
Some people get so caught up in a new diet trend that they think going to the extreme will provide better, faster results. In reality, that often sets you up for failure. For most us (myself included) it's extremely difficult to sustain an all-juice diet for any extended length of time (just check out these 15 signs you're on a juice cleanse!). It's a ticking time bomb that will likely explode and result in you downing a bag of Doritos and bingeing at a burger joint. Not a good plan. The key is to incorporate juices into your diet without totally replacing your meals. For most people, a breakfast juice is a great place to start. Try a green juice with a handful of almonds instead of your usual breakfast of yogurt or cereal (Here's a great starter recipe: 1/2 a head of romaine lettuce, 1/2 a cucumber, 6 spinach leaves, and 1/2 a green apple.). Do this a couple times a week, allow it to become a part of your healthy eating routine, and you'll be sure to stay on the juicing wagon (otherwise, we make no promises).

MORE: Would You Do a Juice Cleanse to Boost Your Libido?

Adding Without Subtracting
Another common flub is adding juices into your diet without subtracting other foods. Look, we know juicing is great for you, it provides all kinds of insane antioxidants, but it's important to keep in mind that they still have calories. Some are better than others—for instance, green juices tend to have fewer calories and sugar than fruit juices—but if you're adding these to your diet every day, well, let's just say it adds up. Instead, add a juice to your diet while subtracting another food. But remember, the trick is to incorporate them, not use them to replace meals altogether. In place of another side dish, try a green apple, spinach, and celery juice with your salmon and broccoli at dinner. This way you'll get all the amazing benefits of the juice without overloading on calories. 

Picking the Wrong Produce
The best part of juicing is that each drink you make is hand crafted from the fresh produce you put into it. Unfortunately, this leaves a fair amount of room for error. As a new juicer, it's totally understandable if you're not digging the straight up green juice (it's an acquired taste, I know).  But this doesn't mean that you should load it up with so many fruits or fruit juices that it tastes like a strawberry milkshake from a fast food restaurant. I promise, adding a couple of pieces of apple or pineapple can go a long way in making it palatable. If you find yourself adding entire fruit baskets to your morning drink, it's probably time for a new plan. You might end with so much sugar and calories that it negates the health benefits. My tip? Make sure your juices follow the 80:20 ratio...80% greens, 20% fruit. Essentially, the fruit is there to cut the bitter taste, not to dominate your drink. And sometimes, you have to let those greens speak for themselves.

MORE: How an ALL-Fruit-Juice Cleanse Affects Your Body

Juicing (and Storing) in Bulk
You know it's important to store your produce properly before juicing, but it's also crucial to drink any juice you make at home as soon as possible. Once all of the raw nutrients are exposed to oxygen, they have a tendency to break down. At a maximum, juices should be stored for just a few hours before drinking. After that they lose a huge amount of their nutrients and may cause you to become ill if pathogens grow due to oxidation. So, if you want to reap the most benefits, drink up right after you juice up. If you're buying your juices, make sure to follow their expiration dates. Many juice companies now use a technology called High Pressure Pascalization, which allows nutrient-dense juice to live longer than it has in the past (up to 6 days) and also stops the growth of microflora. Still, they won't stay healthy forever in the back of your fridge.

So if you're looking to start your juice game, try to avoid these rookie mistakes. You'll end up thanking me years from now when you're a juicing fiend.

MORE: 5 Delicious Spinach Smoothies

10 must-haves for body confidence

How to make sure you’ve got confidence to spare!]]>

More Positive Reviews for the HCG 2.0 Diet Protocol

Check out the positive reviews for Dr. Zach's version of the HCG diet protocol. To view all of the HCG diet reviews found on Amazon, click here. HCG 2.0 uses a BMR calculation to determine the amount of calories on your individualized HCG diet. It also measures your protein items in calories rather than grams, so that you can eat larger portion sizes of leaner items such as white fish and tuna. Choose for yourself, would you rather have 100 grams of beef that contains 260 calories or 250 grams of fish that contains… 260 calories. HCG 2.0 is about eating smart and properly budgeting your calories. Learn more by viewing our Slideshare presentation here. 

This is a great make-over on the old HCG diet. I am able to eat a lot bigger quantities of food and feel much more satisfied though I am getting the same rapid results I got on HCG previously. This is an HCG revolution for sure. By Allpa

Could not put down, very interesting. Lets you understand the difference between a few doctors opinions and views
Just by taking the HCG drops you don't understand how to use them without the HCG information behind it. by Denise Bailey "memories"

I have done the Simeon's protocol in the past. I did lose weight but I will admit it was tough to follow the strict guidelines of the Protocol. I was so glad to have found this book! This is strictly a meat/veggie protocol. I started on Feb 24 & Im down 4.2lbs. Here are my Pros/Cons of the book

CONS:

~Some of his food items have been higher in Nutritional Data than Ive been eating. Therefore, I have added my foods to his list & printed it out.

~Carbs are NOT UNLIMITED. Most servings are 1c. unless noted. However, the Veggie calories are not to be included into your daily caloric allowance. You are ONLY allowed 30g of carbs per day, and thats FOR EVERYONE.

~No milk

~No fruits

PROS:

~You can eat BREAKFAST!!

~Alot more variety of meats & vegetables

~Mixing veggies is allowed review of hcg diet

~An idealistis Calorie Limit depending on each individuals weight, height, age (not like the 500 as on Simeon's)

~You can drink diet soda, diet coke,  zero calorie, carb free beverages instead of just being stuck with tea,water,coffee

~I have not been hungry at all & have been satisfied with the amts of food is allowed. I sometimes choose to eat 5 small meals instead of 3.

~lotions,makeups, deodorants, etc. are not an issue

~you can chew gum!! hcg drops

~very easy to follow with good explanation. LOVE THIS BOOK!!

If you enjoyed HCG 2.0 and would like to write an HCG diet review just visit Amazon.com

Keywords: hcg, hcg diet, hcg diet reviews, hcg drops, simeon's protocol, simeons, diet soda, diet coke, hcg review, hcg information, 

HCG Diet Questions and Information from Dr. Zach

I received an email from a woman completing a course of study in nutrition and weight loss. She asked if I wouldn't mind answering some questions relating to my book, HCG 2.0 – A Modern Adaptation to the traditional HCG Diet. In doing so, I thought some of my readers might have the same questions so I posted them questions and answerns below. If you have questions relating to your HCG diet protocol, please feel free to email me or post them to our HCG Diet Facebook page. 

1. Sunnarize the basic principals of the HCG 2.0 Diet. free

2. Are there any food gruops missing your HCG diet protocol? If so, which ones?

3. Are there any food groups that are in excessive amounts in your HCG plan? If so, which ones?

4. What Macronutrients are missing from HCG 2.0? free

5. What Micronutrients are missing from HCG 2.0? free information

6. Do you recommend the HCG 2.0 diet protocol? why or why not? more free information

7. What are the potential side effects (positive or negative) on the dieters health?

8. Analyze a 3 day intake and summarize your findings?

 

1.     The HCG 2.0 diet combines the HCG supplement with a ketosis based diet. Limiting the carbs on the diet further maintains a more consistent level of ketosis throughout the 40-day low calorie protocol. The more the dieter can do to help the HCG by limiting carbs and maintaining ketosis, the more the HCG will help the dieter.

2.     As we’ve established, this is a ketosis based diet, so there are no starches. Starches can be re-introduced when after the 40 day HCG Diet protocol.

3.     The allowable protein on the HCG diet is adequate, but not excessive. The amount of protein allowed is dependent upon the dieter. A BMR calculation is used to determine the amount of protein allowed on the diet. Protein calories equal 40% of the dieters BMR. BMR (basal metabolic rate) is the amount of calorie one needs to maintain normal, at rest, body function.

4.     As a ketosis diet, there are no carbohydrates. Limiting carbs initiates a completely healthy metabolic process called ketosis which facilitates the conversion of stored fat into ketone bodies, which are converted by the liver into useable energy. Ketosis is the only way to tap into our unwanted fat stores. For more on ketosis, click here.

5.     The HCG 2.0 diet allows for plenty of vegetables and adequate protein, so all micronutrients are included. Carbs are a source of energy, but contain very little nutritional value. If you dissect the word carbohydrate, it’s the reverse of hydrocarbon. Hydrocarbons are the energy that powers are vehicles. Similarly, carbohydrates power the engines of our bodies. Also like our vehicles, when we consume carbohydrates in combination with the oxygen we breathe, energy is produced with CO2 as the by-product. Isn’t biochemistry fascinating??

6.     Of course. It’s a quick and effective way to shed unwanted fat while maintaining muscle mass. One might argue that it’s difficult to maintain the weight loss, and that might be true, but maintaining weight loss is actually a good problem to have. First, it shows that you’re capable of losing weight. Second, you’re operating at a lower weight, which means improvements in blood chemistry including cholesterols, glucose, HBA1C and lower blood pressure. It will take work and discipline, but maintaining the weight loss is entirely doable. My philosophy is get the weight off as quick as possible and then worry about keeping it off.

7.     Positive side effects include: Better rest.Improvements in blood chemistry including lowered cholesterols, blood pressure and HBa1C, which typically remains low following the diet. Higher energy levels without a nervous or edgy feeling. A general feeling of well-being.

Negative side effects may include: Headaches early in the protocol. This could be more of problem if you are accustomed to a high sugar diet and more likely a by-product of detoxing yourself than the HCG. This can be addressed with Aspirin. Leg cramping – Again, this is typically a more frequent problem if you were accustomed to a high sugar diet. A multi-vitamin or potassium supplement can help remedy this. Slight, temporary hair thinning, primarily in women. You may be more likely to experience this if you have a history of female pattern baldness of have lost hair following a pregnancy. A Biotin supplement can remedy this.

 

 

Keywords: hcg, hcg diet, hcg protocol, hcg plan, ketosis, micronutrients, macronutrients, brm, hba1c, calories, carbs, carbohydrates, protein, weight loss, side effects

Mini DeLites

So. After making fun of Michael, I got sick.

Ya.

Let the good times roll.

Sooo. I spent the majority of the weekend holed up like a nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy-head little biotch.

FML.

BUT!! Let it be known: I still got work done; I took Pixy on a walk, cleaned the house, did laundry, returned a zillion e-mails, & did a lil Blog-Doo photo shoot ( oh, the difference between men & women…cough, cough, Michael ).

Annndd today was the first day back at the gym…ok, so weigh in on this one: my trainer, Mike says as long as you’re sick from the neck up, it’s ok to workout. If you’re sick from the neck down, you shouldn’t be sweatin’…at all.

Here’s my thing: I think it’s fine to go to the gym when you’re starting to feel better, but is it necessary to come to gym super sick?

Like, if you have Swine flu, do me a fav & stay home. Because no Purell is going to fix that shit.

Anyway hope you’re all drinking lots of lemon water, taking wellness herb drops, & staying the F away from anyone who’s sick.

Sniff.

X L

Brush Your Lips & Thank Me Later

18 CommentsPosted in: BeautyPost navigation← Mini DeLitesFitness Time: This Week’s Workout Wardrobe →18 thoughts on “Brush Your Lips & Thank Me Later”

Fitness Time: This Week’s Workout Wardrobe

Let’s be real: working out sucks if you don’t look cute.

Like, sweats & an oversized tee don’t work for me. And if I’m busting ass in the gym then my ass should at least look cute, right?

What’s so annoying though: there’s so many awful workout clothes for women.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so annoying if I didn’t have to see camel toes x 10 at the gym ( super awkward ). But seriously…there’s so many unflattering brands.

It’s a real sigh of relief to find workout clothes that have that special, I woke up like this, flattering-look.

Right?

Want a New Hobby? Try Oil Pulling.

Guys. This totally a phallic post.

Let’s go back a couple centuries & talk about the best thing ever: oil pulling.

Oil pulling was initially introduced to me by my BF & partner, Erica. She also runs the blog, Fashionlush & posted about OP-ing here.

Anyway, we went out to dinner last Friday night ( chips & salsa, duh ) and she pretty much changed my whole life with her oil pulling stories. I was like a kid, staring with my mouth wide open for a few minutes, catching flies.

I mean…is this real life? Soooo cool.

Basically?

She said it’s been a realllll game-changer ( anything that whitens my teeth…I’m in ).

The benefits ( we’ll get to them later, don’t worry ) were killer…so…directions?

Thought so:

Croquet & Cocktails: The Skinny Confidential Book Launch Party Deets

34 CommentsPosted in: InspoPost navigation← Want a New Hobby? Try Oil Pulling.34 thoughts on “Croquet & Cocktails: The Skinny Confidential Book Launch Party Deets”

Katy Perry and John Mayer Call it Quits

They're hot and they're cold…and they're over again

So it's been kind of a crazy week for Katy Perry, who tweeted that she helped deliver a baby in a living room (!) yesterday. And just before she played nurse, news broke that she and John Mayer called it quits. The couple has been hot and cold ever since they got together in the summer of 2012, and now it looks like they've split…yet again. Who had February for the next breakup?

Sources close to the couple told E! News yesterday that they're off again, although it's not clear why. Right before the breakup, rumors started circulating that the singers were engaged. Maybe the pressure was getting to them? Or maybe John wasn't too pleased about Katy's recent liplock with Miley. (Seriously, it's been quite a week.) 

Whatever the reason, we're a little heartbroken these "Who You Love" singers couldn't make it work. But hey, at least we got some awesome relationship advice out of it. 

More from Women’s Health:
Katy Perry’s Amazing Post-Divorce Relationship Advice
What Katy Perry Eats Backstage
Katy Perry Kisses and Tells

5 Beauty Benefits of Vitamin C

Pass the oranges!

By Natasha Burton for Beauty High

Time and time again, we hear experts sing the praises of vitamin C. Why is it so incredibly essential? Well, Rianna Loving, founder of organic skincare brand ORGO Beauty, says the nutrient is responsible for creating and maintaining collagen—the "glue that holds the body together." Specifically, this antioxidant strengthens blood vessels and gives skin its elasticity and strength.

However, vitamin C is water-soluble. Meaning: Your body doesn't store or accumulate it. That's why daily intake is highly important, says Loving. Not convinced? See how a daily dose of vitamin C can improve your hair, nails, and skin:

It Promotes Hair Health
Vitamin C is one of the most effective nutrients to help grow and strengthen hair, says Loving. To give your locks a vital dose of vitamin C, blend a partially-boiled sweet potato, a half-cup of gooseberries, three strawberries, and half a small red bell pepper until you get a creamy smooth mixture. Then apply it to your scalp and hair. Leave the mask on for 15 to 25 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.

It Makes You Look (And Feel) More Energized
In your diet, vitamin C plays a vital role in iron absorption—and iron contributes to your overall beauty and wellbeing, says Elisa Zied, author of Younger Next Week: Your Ultimate Rx to Reverse the Clock, Boost Energy and Look and Feel Younger in 7 Days. "When you deplete your iron stores, you can develop anemia and experience fatigue and weakness," she says. "That certainly won't help you look and feel vibrant or energized."

It Promotes Nail Growth
"Vitamin C helps maintain the integrity of our nails by strengthening our skin, connective tissue, bones, and blood vessel walls," says Loving.

It Helps Prevent Hangnails
Because vitamin C strengthens nails and helps them grow, it can also prevent hangnails. Ingesting vitamin C is the best route for optimal nail health, so be sure to eat citrus fruits often.

It Wards Off Signs of Aging
A 2007 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that middle-aged women who consumed more vitamin C from food sources appeared to have fewer wrinkles and less skin dryness. Experts suggest that vitamin C might delay the signs of aging due to free radical damage.

For a vitamin C-rich facemask, blend one kiwi and a half-cup of papaya, and apply the mixture to your face. After 15 to 20 minutes, wash it off with cold water.

More from Beauty High:
15 Things Only Girls With Curly Hair Will Understand
101 Beauty Tips Every Girl Should Know
Foods That Will Make Your Hair Grow Faster

This Just In: The NSA May Have Seen You Naked

Cover up, and step away from the computer

If you're in a long-distance relationship and relying on a webcam to get busy, listen up: There may or may not be a government official tuning in, too. The latest leak from Edward Snowden reveals that the NSA and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Britain have been spying on video chat calls, and there's a good chance they've seen you in your skivvies (or less), according to a report in The Guardian. So you might want to cancel tonight's call, you know, unless you're into voyeurism.

MORE: What to Do if Nude Photos of You End Up Online

GCHQ, with aid from the NSA, used a program named Optic Nerve to collect photos from Yahoo users' webcam conversations, and a good chunk of those snapshots—between 3 and 11 percent—were deemed NSFW. According to The Guardian, this program was intended for facial recognition to identify targets of interest, not your naked body parts—but it didn't really discriminate between the two. Instead, the system just saved one image every five minutes from 1.8 million users' feeds.

MORE: Long-Distance Relationships AREN'T Doomed

Obviously, they saw a lot of nakedness. And apparently, this shocked them. One leaked document states, "It would appear that a surprising number of people use webcam conversations to show intimate parts of their body to the other person." Uh, yeah, what were they expecting?

MORE: You Can Now Simulate Real Sex Over the Internet…Sort Of

What does this mean for you? Well, first we'd suggest covering up and stepping away from the computer. Even though this breach only affected Yahoo users (and may have affected more people in the U.K. than the U.S.), it's still pretty terrifying that someone may be snooping on your Skype sex. In fact, many people worry that the NSA could have access to your phone and e-mail as well, so if you can't get intimate IRL, snail mail might be your best bet. Find out more ways to keep long-distance love alive—without a security breach.

4 Times It's Better to Go with the Full-Fat Version

Your health (and your waistline!) will thank you

It's basically a healthy-eating truism: If you want to avoid gaining weight, you should stick with low- or no-fat dairy products, right? New research says the statement might not be as obvious—or as accurate—as previously thought: In a new study out of Sweden that looked at more than 1,500 men, those who consumed very little dairy fat at the beginning of the study were more likely to be obese 12 years later. Those who had a high intake of dairy fat at the beginning of the study, on the other hand, were less likely to be obese 12 years later. (Keep in mind: This is after researchers controlled for fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, age, education, and profession).

So why might drinking whole milk and eating butter be associated with a lower risk of obesity? The study authors didn't speculate on this, but some experts have suggested that, while fat adds calories, it also helps you feel more satiated—which could cause you to take in fewer calories overall. Of course, that doesn't mean you should go hog wild and load up on fat all the time. But there are some other instances in which it's smart to skip the diet stand-in. These are the foods Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., author of The Flexitarian Diet, says you should always be getting the full-fat version of:
 
Peanut Butter
Low-fat versions of peanut butter sure are tempting, but guess how manufacturers get them that way? "They take out the fat and add in sugar—and that's no better for you, especially since you're usually not even saving that many calories," says Blatner. Bottom line: Full-fat PB is the way to go because no one needs more sugar in their diet. Plus, if you're getting natural peanut butter, most of the fat content is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat (which was recently linked to decreased weight gain).
 
Salad Dressing
"Zero-fat salad dressing is a big no-no because the fat helps us absorb carotenoids—the nutrient-rich compounds found in the vegetables in our salads," says Blatner. So make sure your dressing contains at least a little bit of fat. And full fat is better than low fat since, again, low fat usually means added sugar and/or salt.

Eggs
While you won't find low-fat eggs on shelves, you will find egg substitutes—and recipes that call for only egg whites. "People are throwing away egg yolks right and left—mostly to get rid of cholesterol, but also for fat," says Blatner. "But a whole egg is a lot better for you than just eating the white." See, the yolk contains choline, a healthy-brain compound, along with lots of other good-for-you nutrients. If you just really like the whites, says Blatner, keep at least one yolk in your egg dish to reap the health perks.
 
Baked Goods
"Rather than stocking up on reduced-fat pre-packaged baked goods, go with fresh bakery items that are made with canola or full-fat liquid oils," says Blatner. (And feel free to ask the staff what kind of oil they're using in the baked goods, by the way—that's one of the perks of going to a bakery instead of a chain; they'll actually know the answer.) Even better: Make your own cookies, muffins, and pies this way from scratch so you can control every ingredient, plus serving sizes.

MORE: 7 Warm, Gooey (But Still Healthy!) Cookie Recipes