Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year's Eve

2009 is coming to a close...

What a fabulously exciting year. Oxygen covers in bikinis (yeah!!), our Makeover Challenge winner (and a new one to come soon), incredible success at the Arnold and CanFit Pro expos amongst many many many other things!

I am so happy all of you have joined me on my blog and followed me through yet another year of adventures as a Clean Eater! I hope many of you have found life-changing success from this lifestyle. We are the healthiest, fittest, most fabulous group of Sisters and Brothers in Iron and I thank you so much for the support you offer me.

I'll be ringing in the New Year with my family tonight at a wedding in Austin, Texas. We've been thoroughly enjoying our time here in the Lone Star State! Thanks for the Southern hospitality.

Enjoy your celebrations tonight whatever they may be.

Much Love,
Tosca

Monday, December 28, 2009

Still Whirling About

Has it really been 5 days since I have last written? Where did the time go? I think I hit the ground running as of last Monday morning and still haven't stopped!! My family and I have flown to Texas for the wedding of a family friend. We've just spent 14 hours traveling due to heightened security measures. It took us 3.5 hours to get to our gate. I am by no means complaining since I understand the need for traveler safety, but I am still surprised by the wait times. Thankfully the agents at Pearson in Toronto kept things moving along quite well. I am now one very tired lady because I have been up since 1am. I am taking some down time now before catching up with my kids for a movie. I just wanted to let you know I am alive and kicking even thought I have been absent for 5 days. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I am going to follow up with some pictures very very soon. In the meantime, I have 2 videos to share with you:

WGN Chicago

CTV News


Thank you so much for the GMA feedback. See the post below if you missed the video. I hope the ones above are equally as educational.

Only a few more days until our Eat-Clean Diet Makeover Challenge closes. Keep up the good work participants. You are ALMOST there!!

And only a few more days until New Year's Eve. Time to work on those resolutions! What are yours?

Finally, the ECD Recharged hits shelves in January (if you haven't been lucky enough to get it already). I'm excited!! Here's a sneak peak at the totally revamped book!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

GMA CLIP

HERE IT IS!!!

I guess it aired yesterday! I didn't know! I thought it was supposed to be tomorrow. Oh well. Enjoy!!

I'm pretty proud of it.

What do you think?

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Holiday Time

Went for a 10k with my sister-in-law Tammy and boy did I get my a** kicked!

I picked up my road bike and trainer this afternoon. Very exciting new addition to the workout room!

We went tobogganing and skating with the family after the run and had an excellent time on the pond. It froze perfectly this year. What a chilly day!

We made Tammy's pumpkin and sausage pasta for supper tonight. What a treat. Especially post Cooler 1.

My house is full of fun and games with the kids. We played a game with the kids last night called Hot Seat Cold Seat. Kids always know how to have the best time.

Now it's time to watch movies and hanging out for the rest of the night.

Pics coming later.

Much love for the holidays,
Tosca

Monday, December 21, 2009

Cooler 1 Is Done... And Just In Time!!

Yeah!!! Our Cooler 1 Challenge has ended.

Did you make it through with me? I would love to hear your experience. Please share in the comments section so all of our bloggers can read.

It couldn't have ended at a better time. My family has just arrived for an early Christmas celebration. All the kiddies are running around the house and I'm busily cooking dinner. I won't be splurging too much over the holidays, but an occasional glass of wine and treat will be making it past my lips.

I'm most excited about training with my sister-in-law, Tammy. She is one heck of an Ironwoman and is helping me prepare for my sprint distance triathlon. She's had me doing a serious of "bricks" as they're called in the tri world. I'm really excited to see what she's going to throw at me while she's here for the next few days. I might be a little sore... love that sweet pain!

When do your holidays begin?

Well done on our Cooler 1 Challenge!! Only 1o more days left to submit your entries for the Eat-Clean Diet Body Makeover Challenge! New to the site and don't know what it is? Check it out here!!!

Loving the holidays... and thinking of all of you!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

GMA In A New York Minute!

Pardon my disappearance for the last couple of days. I have been busily setting up the house for the holidays since I got back from NYC on Friday.

It was an absolute whirlwind of events! The energy there is palpable particularly at this time of year. Of course the freezing temps help you realize it's that time of year, too. Shop windows on 5th Avenue are ablaze with fantastic displays (and temptation). We did a little Christmas shopping, but Thursday was all about Good Morning America. Allison Earnst (read her success story here) and I (plus our fabulous team... thanks guys!!) met the early morning call time of 8:00 am ready to roar.

Let's just say we met soooo many celebs we had to make a list:
Robin Roberts
Sam Champion
George Stephanopoulus
Juju Chang
Tanya Rivero (my gracious hostess)
Steve Harvey (he asked me to guest on his radio show and help him lose weight!! Wahooo!!)
Food Network Chefs Mario Batali & Emeril Lagasse (who had an excellent cook off)

We met all of these folks at GMA AND we have already been invited back!! Yeah!! We had an amazing time filming our health segment. The food stylist (thanks Danni Bleil) did a bang up job and Allison was a natural! The piece will air on the afternoon of the 24th and the morning of the 25th!!

Then we visited a stunning gallery called Opera in SoHo and who should be there but Joe Jonas and Chelsea Staub! Our teens went crazy and the stars graciously chatted with us and posed for pics. Very very nice people!

After a yummy meal of fish and steamed veggies (yes, I did hold strong to Cooler 1 the whole time I was in New York!) we went to Rockefeller Plaza braving frigid temps to see the glorious Christmas tree. It really is the holidays!!

Enjoy the photos!
Mwah!
Tosca

P.S. Only 1 more day left in the Cooler 1 Challenge!!! YOU CAN DO IT!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

On the Road Again

Well, technically I'm in the air again. I'm flying to NYC today to film a segment for Good Morning America. This is REALLY exciting stuff! It's a taped segment that may air tomorrow (Thursday November 17) on the show, but it may also air at another time. I'm not really sure yet. Of course I will keep you posted, but I will also put it on here after the segment has aired. I can't wait!!

Also, here is the link to the Chex TV segment last night.

Yesterday was also our work holiday potluck. I made a giant pot of soup for the gathering. One nice thing about our work environment is that most of us eat very clean, which means our potluck was full of healthy and delicious options, most of which were within the confines of Cooler 1.

Here's a shot of my oatmeal from this morning. I had yet to add in my flax and bee pollen, and I had already eaten my egg whites, hence the empty egg cup waiting for more!

I will be keeping up Cooler 1 while I'm away. Only a few more days left in the challenge! Let's give it a big push to the end in support of our Eat-Clean Diet Body Makeover Challengers. For a refresh on what I'm eating check out this post. Cooler 1 and travel can be a challenge. I am going to do my utmost to eat as well as possible. I don't mind asking the server for egg whites and oatmeal for breakfast, and I select restaurants where I know I can get healthy foods. I am only away for two nights so it won't be too hard.

Wish me luck! And best of luck to all of you, too. We're in the home stretch!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

CHEX TV??

If CHEX TV in Peterborough, Ontario is your station you'll be able to catch me sometime tonight during Newswatch at 5:30pm! I'll post it online later on if you miss it!

I Love Good Feedback

The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged is ready to hit stands soon!! Here's an excellent review about the completely revamped first book in the ECD series. Thanks!

Also, here's a spread in University Link magazine. Good reading! P.S. You can click on the pic to make it bigger.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Back from a Busy Weekend

The days have been flying by for me as I am certain they have been for all of you as well. There is something about this time of year that in the days before the holidays one day races into another and there is never enough time to complete the tasks at hand.

On Friday I had the absolute honor of meeting two of my biggest fans, Linda and her friend Joanne. Linda's husband, Gilles, organized the meeting. We couldn't resist the urge to hit the gym. We had a full body workout and followed it up with a pleasant lunch of grilled chicken, brown rice and steamed veg. It was a lovely afternoon.

Then on Friday evening we had our work Christmas party. We did something I've NEVER done before.... bowling!! The entire Eat-Clean Diet team took part initiating Bob and me into this sport. In the first game, I not only fell down, but I guttered nearly every ball. The 2nd game, however, Bob and I practiced and did pretty good. Overall, everyone was pretty bad at the game, but no one cared that much. It was such a fun way to celebrate the holiday and our team taking the focus off food (like most holiday parties) and putting it onto a fun activity. Love it!

My tree had been up in the family room for a week before a single ornament was place on it. Last night after having created a delicious Sunday feast of mashed celeriac, steamed broccoli and carrots, parchment baked chicken and grilled beef tenderloin, I suggested to my daughters, Rachel and Chelsea that since I had cooked the dinner they could clean up and then each of them could help finish decorating the tree by placing 10 ornaments on it each. Would you know it? In no time at all the tree was completely decorated and it turned out to be a pleasant experience topped off with Christmas music playing in the background.

Now it is Monday morning and my list is still long (minus one decorated tree). I considered not doing my run this morning because I was so strapped for time but I resisted that temptation and did it anyway. I figured I would just have to run faster and get it done in a shorter amount of time. So I logged my 3 miles in about half an hour and then did the Tosca Eat Clean Cooler #1 Breakfast – oatmeal, flax, salba and 4 egg whites.

My day will be full of To Do’s but at least I will attack it knowing I have not skimped on exercise or nutrition. It occurred to me that food choices are made by virtue of what is available in your cupboards, cooler or fridge. I have already cooked my hardboiled eggs for today and have a green salad ready to go. There is also the parchment baked chicken left over from last night as well as the steamed veggies. That is why I always do Planned Leftovers. It is so easy to pack up leftovers into my cooler and run for the rest of the day.

I am thinking of all of you as you dash about in the madness of the holiday season. I struggle too and I want you to know it is the smallest of actions – like packing a cooler or doing your cardio despite the time squeeze – that is a sign to yourself that you care... you care about you. And I do too.

Love and hugs.
Tosca

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Cooler Comments and More

Today's Grub: Breakfast & Lunch

Breakfast: Oatmeal, hard boiled egg whites, and berries! I didn't eat the whole bowl of berries (although I probably could). They were for me, my husband, and my daughter.


Lunch: My half-eaten chicken salad with water!! I was too hungry to wait to take the picture! It was delicious!


Cooler 1 Comments:

I've received a lot of comments since I started Cooler 1. I'll answer a couple of reader questions today.

Don't forget
, in future, send all questions to tosca@eatcleandiet.com. I'll be much more likely to answer on there!

1. Pre and Post Workout Meals: I usually prep with a small carb-based meal beforehand, such as an apple and a handful of nuts. After a workout I'll have a protein-based meal such as a protein shake. This is important for muscle recovery purposes.

2. Cooler 1 - why mine looks a little different: See Question 4.

3. If you're vegan and don't like soy how do you attempt Cooler 1: With difficulty to be honest. It's very hard to get enough protein from carb-based protein sources, and vegans rely on carb-based protein sources for the most part. You could try rice milk, almond milk, quinoa, and hemp. I prefer unfermented soy products like tempeh myself. You could try these, too. I find them easier to digest compared to tofu, but this is just me. Any other suggestions out there??

4. Training for a Sprint Tri on Cooler 1: I have to admit... it is hard! I am listening to my body and eating a little more than I usually would on Cooler 1. I don't want to get too lean, and the training for the tri is full of demanding cardio work which will lean me out very quickly. I'm doing my best to support my Makeover Challengers, but I am also trying to stay as healthy and nourished as possible while training so intensely. This is why you might see a few modifications in my Cooler 1 plan here and there. I'm only human... as you are all of you!

5. Salba: Salba is a chia seed product... a grain higher in protein than most others and full of other nutrients. You can read more here (by the way, I am not affiliated with this company... just a fan of their products).

6. Rice in Cooler 1: Please see pg. 102 of ECD Expanded. Also, as written above... I am training for a Sprint Tri and need a few more carbs from whole grains. Please also see this post.

6. Bee Pollen Replacement: If you don't like bee pollen just leave it out.

7. Cooler 1 as a Vegetarian Challenge: Send me the meal plans and I'll be happy to give it a try!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Cooler 1 Continues

As a divergence from Cooler 1... Aren't these trees lovely!! They are the gifts that keep on giving. My daughter gave me a lemon tree and a lime tree for my birthday one year. The fruit they produce is so nice especially during a winter storm like the one we had today in Southwestern Ontario. Lemons and limes make me think of summertime! The lemon is so big it almost looks like a grapefruit.


Check out the delicious Cooler 1 foods I've packed in my cooler for myself. Tons of hard boiled eggs, chicken, brown rice, veggies, fruit, Ezekiel cereal, Salba, rice milk and lots of H2O of course!!


Last but not least...my gym shoes! The only thing that keeps me sane is a good workout each day. Now that I'm training for my sprint distance triathlon I am logging lots of hours on the treadmill. My shoes are taking a beating!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Yesterday's Eats

Here's what was on tap yesterday in my house...
My husband and kids don't seem to be minding the Cooler 1 thing too much... although I don't limit them to only what I'm eating.

I do have a work Christmas party coming up this Friday. I'm going to have to stay strong to avoid eating all of the non-Cooler 1 treats they will have. I'll probably bring my cooler with me. Aren't we the craziest bunch of people. But I would rather be slightly crazy and healthy as a result!

Delicious kale and white bean soup made from scratch... slightly off the Cooler 1 mark, but still fabulously nutritious and vegetarian!


Yummy steamed mix veg, grilled chicken and brown rice.


My body wasn't too happy about the switch to less carbohydrates from whole grains. I was drinking lots of water yesterday as a result. I can't wait for the great results, though.

How are you doing?

Monday, December 7, 2009

Cooler 1 Has Begun

How is everyone doing so far on the Cooler 1 Challenge that I mentioned on Friday?

I'm going to give you a peak at what I'll be eating every day for the next 2 weeks (and 2 weeks only). My meals won't vary much at all because this is very tight eating. I will also post a new meal each day (hopefully) with a picture for some added interest.

It's hard to eat this strictly... but we can do it!!

Come on Makeover Challengers (and anyone else joining us)!! Only a few weeks left!

7:00 a.m. – 1/3 cup dry oatmeal (2/3 cup cooked) topped with 2 tablespoons ground flax seed, 1 tablespoon bee pollen and 1 tablespoon wheat germ; 6 egg whites scrambled or boiled; 1 cup green tea; 1 liter water

9:30 a.m. – 6 oz lean grilled chicken breast; ½ cup raw veggies – cucumbers, radish, green beans or lettuce leaves; 500 ml water

Noon – 1 ½ cups mixed salad greens with 3 radishes and 4” piece of cucumber cut up; no salad dressing only lemon juice; 1 cup water packed tuna; green tea; 500 ml water

2:30 p.m. – 6 oz. lean grilled chicken breast; ½ cup raw veggies – cucumbers, radish, raw asparagus and green beans or lettuce leaves; 500 ml water

Dinner – ½ cup brown rice; 1 cup steamed green veggies – broccoli, green beans, asparagus, spinach; 6 oz white fish grilled or baked dry; 500 ml water

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Clips and Reviews!

Here are a few great moments for me and The Eat-Clean Diet:

Feature in Orange County Parenting mag:
http://www.parentingoc.com/ate_0912.html

Excellent review of the Eat-Clean Diet for Men:
http://www.jerseysmarts.com/2009/11/23/book-review-the-eat-clean-diet-for-men/

Lovely review of the Eat-Clean Cookbook:
http://www.thought4food.us/?p=1623

Books make excellent holiday gifts. Check out the Eat-Clean Diet store and the Tosca Reno store for quick, easy, and successful holiday shopping.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Eat-Clean Diet Body Makeover Challenge - Cooler 1 Fun!

There are just over 3 weeks remaining in the Eat-Clean Diet Body Makeover Challenge!!

In support of all of our eager participants I will be starting Cooler 1 from the Eat-Clean Diet as my main nutrition plan for the next few weeks. It will be tough (especially with holiday parties popping up right, left, and center), but the payoff will be huge. This is especially true since my Body Makeover Challengers and I will be doing it together!!

If you are in need of a metabolism boost, a plateau breaker or a diet overhaul please join me in supporting our Sisters (and Brothers) In Iron as they push through the last few weeks of our challenge.

Not sure what the Eat-Clean Diet Body Makeover Challenge is? Check it out here! You may be eligible to win big, including a spread in Oxygen magazine and a consult with me.

Happy Friday - Cooler 1 Here We Come!

p.s. Don't forget... Cooler 1 should only be followed for 2 weeks or less. It is not a maintainable long-term eating plan as recommended in the Eat-Clean Diet. It is only for prepping for contests, photo shoots, breaking plateaus, kick starting a diet plan, and the final push of challenges! Read more in the Eat-Clean Diet, and always check with your doctor before beginning any NEW diet or exercise plan.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Bobbi Brown Event

I'm finally home sweet home after another whirlwind week of travel to Florida and NYC.

On Wednesday I had the honor of speaking at an event for Bobbi Brown. 37 editors from international magazines (think Cosmo, Allure, Vogue, etc) were in attendance. I spoke all about the Eat-Clean Diet and how eating in this manner has changed my life! What a thrill. They even had a chef come in to prepare breakfast foods from the cookbook for us to munch on. The food was delicious, of course! And we gave everyone a green Eat-Clean Diet bag to take with them... you can see them piled all over the hotel room floor here.

People seemed truly interested in what I had to say, which I always find encouraging. After each event my husband, myself and my other team members (if they are present) have a little debrief to discuss what to do more of/less of in the future. There is always room for improvement, and I am really trying to work on my public speaking habits. The audience members aren't the only ones gaining knowledge. I am always learning something new after every event at which I speak! Overall, it was a great experience.

My husband and I were in and out of NYC in a flash, but we did stay at a lovely little gem call The Crosby Street Hotel. It's only a few weeks old, but it's very unique with rich colors and a very posh feel. I would definitely like to go back when I am in NYC again. Too bad I couldn't stay for the tree lighting. I love visiting Rockefeller Center when it's all lit up in and the skaters are flooding the rink.

What are your favorite holiday moments?

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Check It Out!!!

I posted on Facebook about my new website... but I forgot to post on here... check out my new and improved website:

http://toscareno.com/

Feedback please!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Feeling A Little Too Jet Set

We're gearing up to head off to NYC from Florida this evening. Florida was all work and no play! I wish I could have met some of my fans while I was here, but it wasn't in the schedule. We'll have to plan another visit soon.

So off we go to the Big Apple. I will be addressing 40 international beauty editors for Bobbi Brown tomorrow. I am trying to figure out what to wear. At least I know what I'm going to say!

I can't wait for a nice cup of tea once we arrive from Miami.

NYC is sunny and crisp... what a pleasant Dec 1!

Thinking of Eat Clean Diet fans everywhere. What are you up to today?