60 days to a better body

As many of you know, my wedding is right around the corner. In fact, tomorrow marks the 60-day countdown. That's a mere two months until "I do." For the past few months, I have been tweaking my diet and adding exercise into my weekly routine to get me where I want (or need) to be, and I am just beginning to notice a change. 

Like any of you out there who have a major deadline approaching such as a family or high-school reunion or just the fact that bikini season lurking around the corner, you know that teeny tiny changes won't cut it. This is precisely why tomorrow, with 60 days left until my wedding, I will embark on a fitness and health journey to banish this extra flab on my body, and reveal the bikini-struttin', shorts-wearing, sleeveless-top-donning slender Tova that I want to be. 

I work better as a team, so I have enlisted Blush Editorial Assistant, Dana to do the program with me. Since she, too, dreams of parading on the beach this summer in an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, yellow polka-dot number, she is willing to go through a torturous two months free o ice cream with me. 

The best part about this Blush challenge, is that we are going to share it with you—Blush readers—every step of the way. I keep hearing from fitness enthusiasts that accountability is key. So, I am now accountable to Dana, and every single one of you. If you need the accountability too, then buddy up and log on to the blog—and you can choose to do the program with us, or laugh at our fun-loving attempts to try anything.

So...to task No. 1

I told Dana today that we MUST take "before" pictures. She wasn't too happy about this, but I feel it's necessary for everyone to look at themselves and love their bodies the way it is today, before any of us can expect more out of it. So, that's right, tomorrow we are both grabbing a camera and snapping a few shots. 

Now, I must say, I am a wee bit terrified to put on a swimsuit of any kind right now, but that's the point. I need to know and come to terms with where I am right now. So that means weighing in and snapping the evidence. It's quick and relatively painless—and anyone can do this step. But this doesn't mean I am showing you guys...yet. 

I received food guidelines via Dolvett Quince, celebrity fitness trainer at Body Sculptor Inc.—a highly respected gym facility in Atlanta, Ga (www.bodysculptorinc.com). I am sharing these tid bits with you, if you choose to get on the plan as well.

Now on to the program guidelines:

Include a protein source at each meal. 

Include a healthy fat source at each meal. Healthy fats include extra virgin olive oil, ev coconut oil, raw butter, avocados, and nuts (but not peanuts and cashews). Fats from whole organic eggs and meats are OK. Trans fats, on the other hand, are not healthy fats. 

Include a fibrous carbohydrate at each meal. Good fibrous cabs include vegetables and fresh fruit. 

Only include a serving of Complex Carbohydrates after a workout. Complex (good) carbs include brown rice, natural grains, oatmeal, millet, quinoa, beans and sweet potatoes. 

Eat every 2-3 hours. This means you will be eating 5-7 small meals each day. Here's a sample schedule for eating: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Drink 1/2 of your body weight in clean water each day. This means, if you are 200 lbs, you should be drinking 100 ounces of H20 daily. And, add an additional 8 ounces of water for every cup of coffee you have.

Avoid all processed non-foods. This even includes "health bars" 

No more processed sugar and artificial sweeteners. Now, I know you ladies might like your pink, blue and yellow packets, but these chemicals can lead to some serious weight gain by making your body crave sugar. If you would like something to add sweetness, try Stevia—a plant-based alternative. They have this at Greenlife Grocery, and other health food stores, and now can even be found at typical grocery stores as well. Check out www.sweetleaf.com for more information.

Eliminate all wheat from your meal plan. I know this sounds extreme, but this is what Dana and I will do. I actually can't have wheat due to an intolerance to it, but most people are highly intolerant to products containing wheat and are unaware. Even if you don't have any problems with wheat, it can still cause that lower-ab area to pooch with gastrointestinal distress.

Add a high-quality Omega 3 supplement in your meal plan.

Take one "reward" meal per week. This is so you can have that cake you've been eyeing all week in the fridge, or enjoy a birthday party or special occasion. One splurge meal won't get you off track, don't worry. 

OK, that's it! Tomorrow we begin, stay tuned! E-mail me with updates and questions: editor1@blushmag.net.

We can do this together!  

With hope,

Tova 

I Confess! I Need Concealer!

Some days I wish that I was one of those gals who didn't need to cover up blemishes, dark circles or even out skin tone. I have some friends who wake up looking like those fresh-faced models and actresses in the Neutrogena commercials. And I know you've seen the Proactiv ads—I, for one, have never looked that good with just face wash. 

Last night, I enjoyed an evening out on the town—going from one party to the next—and because I am a complete psycho right now when it comes to fitness (I simply must fit into my 

wedding dress in a mere 65 days), I decided to go to the gym after work. Thirty minutes of cardio later, I was sweaty and my makeup had run all over my face and down my Lululemon Athletica workout top (http://www.lululemon.com/). After a quick rinse, my skin was completely bare and exposed—with all it's yellowish tints, purple bags and red splotches. Party ready? I think not.  I instantly began scrambling for any cosmetic I could find stashed at the bottom of my purse. 

...Hmm, an old mint I've had since 2009, that won't work...an old lip gloss pot, I can use that...oh look, there's mascara, thank goodness...and then I struck gold. Benefit Cosmetics Confessions of a Concealaholic (http://www.benefitcosmetics.com)—I had forgotten I had thrown it in my Mary Poppins bag just a few days earlier. 

A miracle set, this kit consists of a little tube of "That Gal" face primer, Erase Paste (which is simply the best concealing product I have ever found, Boi-ing concealer in two shades, and Lemon Air and Eye Bright color correctors.

After a few dabs here and there, I looked put-together enough to jet to my first party of the evening, where I ran into Celebrity Makeup Artist Alyson Hoag (http://www.myimagejourney.com/cms/)—which reminded me just how naked and uncomfortable I would've felt if I didn't have a miracle in my purse. $36 well spent!

66 days and counting

I am now 66 days away from my wedding, and I am not calm. I am not reserved; I am not serene; I am not even logical. What is it about weddings that make the most sensible ladies get frustrated over the smallest things? I consider myself to be a rational and practical young woman, but when I am dealing with the price of place cards, multiplied by the number of people on my ever-expanding guest list, I seem to crumble. Deadlines for work—no problem. Deadlines for invitations—tears. 

I was never like this before my wedding. Selecting organza over silk seemed like something silly and frou frou at best. It would never bring a strong and independent woman such as myself into a downward spiral (crashing on spools of lace below). 

I now look at all the other brides-to-be. There are some who seem so happy to take on the daily task of guest seating charts or calligraphy. I stare at their sublime grins when they try on different hair pieces at the bridal shop. Are they for real? Or are they secretly breaking down and comforting themselves with chocolate bars once they return to their cars and read the bill? Or maybe they are crying at the shoe store because their pumps already have a scuff on them. 

I suppose there are, in fact, some women out there who were made for this. And I'll admit, I was not. But I believe in my heart of hearts there are more brides out there who feel just like I do. They just won't come clean. I feel no shame in saying that this wedding stresses me out. I never dreamed I would spend an entire month on the hunt for the perfect veil (which I found last night!). I can't decide on linens for the tabletops because they all seem too expensive, and I become possessed when provoked to talk about it. I avoid looking at my bank account balance like I avoid going to the doctor. This is what happened when you are 66 days in counting.

But who said getting married was easy? 

Every day I remind myself that this wedding is for my family and friends, but this marriage will be for me and forever. And somehow, it gets me through. I remember—if only for a moment—that lace and organza and scuffed pumps are trivial to a marriage. That's not what commitment is all about. These things are only important to my wedding, which will be a blip on the timeline of my life—one special (and hopefully amazing) day that will open the doors to several unforgettable events to come.

So with 66 days left, what's on my mind? 

Veils, rehearsal dinners, flowers—but most of all May 31st: the day after the wedding, and my first day as Mrs. Tova Rosenberg.