We're Cleansing... Ionic Cleansing & Cooler 1

Wow!!! Sounds like a lot of people are on board for the Pre-Arnold Cooler 1 Challenge for the next 2 weeks. We're two days in so far. How is everyone doing?? I'm feeling a little tired, but that could be because I spent all day flying to Portland, OR to visit my daughter, Rachel. I made sure to pack along my "eat clean" treats suitable for crossing the border (think no fruits or meats). Once I passed security I filled up my water bottle and managed to find a clean meal. It IS possible to do that at the airport. No excuses!

Seems a lot of you were really interested in the ionic cleanse, too. It was such a great experience. I was really tired afterwards, but apparently that is normal. My "cleanser" told me that I did pretty well because I was so relaxed. Most people get concerned with the combination of electricity and water and have a hard time relaxing. I was just happy to be sitting down for an hour with my feet in hot water. It does feel a bit strange at first. It's like having little fishies nibbling at your toes.

The water showed that I am a little low on calcium so I'm going to look into a supplement since I don't consume too many dairy products, and apparently my healthy greens aren't making up for it. Could be the lack of Vitamin D lately, too. It really is time for winter to be over.

Check out the pics below of my Ionic Cleanse Experience... WARNING!!! THEY ARE NOT PRETTY!!!!

Pre-Arnold Challenge

Happy Wednesday Bloggers,

We are about 2 weeks out from the Arnold and I am fully in prep mode. Even though I am not competing, I still have to be looking and feeling my best as I represent Oxygen, Clean Eating and The Eat-Clean Diet on the booth.

I am basically following Cooler 1 plan.

Anyone want to do it with me?

I'm issuing an Pre-Arnold Challenge. For the next 2 weeks we'll do Cooler 1. Join me if you're interested even if you're not going to the Arnold.

What will the next few weeks include:
Tightening up the diet (see Cooler 1 Plan in The Eat-Clean Diet for more details)
Feeling a little hungry... this part is no fun
No fruit
Lots of wheat grass, salmon, and spinach
Not skipping any workouts!!!!
Adding a ½ hour of morning cardio
Training heavy with weights in the evenings

It's been hard to get into prep mode because there has been a lot going on at home. I’ve been driving back and forth to Belleville about 3 times in the last week! I had to help my daughter with a driving ticket, I had to return my other daughter and her friend to university after spring break, and yesterday I had to take care of both a sick daughter and a sick mom. But no more excuses.... time to get down to business!

By the way, I think it's time for February to end. We need some sunshine and warmth!

For a little time out this afternoon I will be doing an ionic cleanse at the Hockley Valley Tea Company. You sit and soak your feet and all the "yucky" (for lack of a better word) comes out. At least that will warm me from the inside out, even if the weather can't.

Why don't you do something nice for yourself, too. Remember, taking care of you and loving you means you can take care of and love someone else that much more!

Hugs,
Tosca

p.s. I'll be answering questions soon!!

Woohoo!!! New Digs!!

Here are some shots from my new office space – it is still under design construction.

I am so thrilled at having my own office space! Finally at nearly 50 years of age!!

I have a table and rug coming as well as some more paintings and an interesting (and monstrously heavy) wooden bench made from a log.

I love having my own space where I can work with my team to give you the best of the best.

This is where Eating Clean meets my thinking team!

Back from LA

UPDATE:
My appearance on Extra! will air on March 7th, 2009!
Click here to see what time it will air in your city: http://extratv.warnerbros.com/about/whenitson.php
_________________________________________
3 feet of snow blankets the ground...

-13 C temperatures nip at your face...


Best solution??

Hop on a plane to LA.

That's what me and my hubby did this week. Unfortunately, our foray into the golden state only lasted 1 day. We flew in on Tuesday evening, filmed all day on Wednesday, and flew home on Thursday afternoon. Boo!!!

That is not the best thing to do. All I wanted was to soak up the sun for just a few more minutes before heading back to snow country.

BUT the time I had in LA was great. I was really nervous to work with the team from Extra. I was lying in bed on Tuesday night worrying away about how the day would go. Would they think I was unprofessional? Would I mess up? Would it not be interesting enough? All these things kept me up. When the day finally arrived and I started things went much more smoothly than I thought. We actually had a lot of fun. The feedback was great, too. I guess my work with Naomi producing the series for The W Network gave me a lot of practice. I felt totally at ease.

The show will air on March 7th. It is part of Extra's Ambush Lifestyle Makeovers. We ambushed a teen with diabetes. It was a really great day with an excellent message. I'll give you more details closer to the date.

Next time I am hoping to show Mario Lopez a few things in the gym!

Have a great weekend everyone.

-Tosca

Could Clean Eaters Be Olympians?

We Canadians are excited... The Olympics will take over Vancouver in the winter of 2010.

I just found this great article online discussing the nutritional intake of Olympians as they train to be at the top of their game. Interestingly enough they Eat Clean without even knowing it.

Check it out here (especially hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser's plan at the bottom of the article... look familiar??).

On My Way Across the Country

Hey Bloggers,

Happy Monday to you. I am on my way to Denver, Colorado for a few meetings before heading to LA to film a bunch of stuff for Extra on Wednesday. Home again on Thursday. I will keep you posted on the Extra air date. In the meantime, here is a link to an interview I did the other day for a local AM radio station here in Ontario. It's one of my favorite stations! Enjoy and welcome to another great week!

-Tosca

Update: Oops! Sorry for the technical difficulties with the link! My team is working on getting the interview to you shortly! - TR

Happy Valentines Day

To my wonderful bloggers...

Have an excellent day whether you're with or without a sweetheart.

Here's a fun list that is floating around Facebook. You can add me as a friend on Facebook, and join my MySpace page, too. My team and I were finally able to get rid of the MySpace impostors so this is the real page.

Enjoy the list!

25 Things About Me

1. I was born 11 months after my sister so she is my “Irish twin.”

2. My name comes from the Italian opera by Puccini. It means “the beloved.” Which is interesting since everybody but Tosca dies in the opera. Yikes!!

3. When I am touched along the back of my neck I am undone. That is a big turn on for me.

4. I have no cavities. And my gums are fine too thanks.

5. I have big ugly feet for a girl who is 5’8” – I wear size 10 shoes! And I hate my feet.

6. I was born 5 minutes into Gemini so I always read both Taurus and Gemini horoscopes.

7. I had a dream once that I was on the Oprah show and that she was wearing a fuschia pink outfit and we were discussing the quality and flavor of her favorite ice cream. The dream was so real I could see the hairs on her arms and I could smell her perfume. That dream happened 15 years ago and I still have that same dream.

8. I like to cook but I am not uber-skilled so it’s odd to have a best-selling cookbook.

9. I broke my nose when I was 32 and had to have it repaired but I never thought about altering it surgically so that it was “Hollywood perfect.” I stuck with my own nose.

10. When I weighed 204 pounds – that was my heaviest – I was not pregnant. It was just me and the ice cream that piled the weight on.

11. I can’t stand the sight of blood which is why I never became a doctor.

12. When I delivered my last child I peed all over the doctor who was down at the business end of me waiting for my daughter to come out.

13. I can’t stand inefficiency. If I can do more than one thing at the same time I will. Like if I can pee and open the mail at the same time I do it!

14. I look ridiculous in ruffles and frills. You would laugh at me, I promise.

15. I can lift heavier with my legs than my husband.

16. I can speak Dutch, French and German.

17. I find it difficult to hang my ego on the door at times.

18. I swear I am telepathic. Sometimes I know things are going to happen before they do. When they do happen I am never wrong.

19. When my father died we forgot to pack a shirt for him to be buried in so I took off my turtleneck and that is what he was wearing when we buried him.

20. I am the person on the plane who listens to the emergency procedures even though I have heard them a hundred times or more and I always read the safety card. I imagine myself being prepared in case of emergency. If I am sitting in the Exit row then I practice in my head ripping the door out and chucking it into the air. You never know!

21. I once helped to deliver a calf at my uncle’s farm. I had to help put the chains on the little calf’s legs and help pull too. It left me shaking and thinking how fragile life is.

22. I made the most money as a university student working at Alcan Aluminum making tubing for tents and furniture. My boots and overalls stunk like oil and machines.

23. I have never smoked cigarettes.

24. I floss my teeth in bed and totally gross out my husband! Yeah – but my teeth are squeaky clean.

25. I can run really fast even in my snowshoes.