Esther Blum - The Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous Project: Three Months to a New You

FOR ROBERT CRAYHON
friend, mentor, comedian, and healer.

I OWE THIS ALL TO YOU.

W ho doesnt love a good project, especially when that project is you? After all, there isnt a woman out there who doesnt want to do better for herself. Bearing in mind that love of self is the best love, Im putting this project out into the world to help you change the way you think and to give you loads of techniques to help you do better. It will turn your wont power into willpower. You will learn tools and tricks from some of the best experts in the field. And, although it may not be easy at first, in time youll learn to be the mistress of your own domain. And thats what being gorgeous is all aboutbeing empowered, armed, and dangerously curved.

Keeping track of what you eat is one of the best forms of cognitive behavioral therapy. Not only does it rewire your brain and incite change, but it also brings awareness and focus to what you put in your mouth. If you bite it, you write it! A food diary is the highest form of personal accountability and will quickly help you identify imbalances in your ratios of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat.

The mission of this project is to help you create awareness (and change, if necessary) of what you are eating and draw conclusions from that informationjust as a personalized counseling session would. Did you gain more energy from changing the way you eat? Lose weight? Stop eating that daily extra piece of chocolate? Go for a walk on the weekend instead of lying on the couch? Its all about inspiring you to eat healthfully and create motivation and change within yourself.

The Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous Project contains cutting-edge information on exercise, supplements, and clean eating. Youll learn how to make your food work for younot the other way around. Check out the Gorgeously Fit chapter to learn how to maximize your fat-burning potential. At the end of this book are four different meal plan options to choose from. Go with the one that fits your goals and give it a whirl for a monthI promise youll have a different body in four weeks. You can stay on any of these plans as long as you like, or toggle back and forth between them as your needs change. Ive also included recipes for starters, mains, sides, and desserts to bust up boredom in the kitchen. They may even expand your recipe repertoire so much that youre inspired to throw that fabulous dinner party youve been thinking about. Youll find question-and-answer sections at the end of each chapter that should satisfy your own questions and help you realize that your challenges are not solely your own; everyone needs support when making changes. Im here with you for the long haul!

You may think that just because I write these books this is all a snap for me. Think again! Being a registered dietitian does not necessarily make it easy for me to eat healthfully all the time; I struggle to consistently eat well just like you do! After all, Im still a human with cravings, weaknesses, and a lot of other priorities to manage beyond what I put in my body. Eating mindfully takes time, practice, and commitment. And doing the very best you can every day is all you can ask of yourself. I know from years of having counseled thousands of women that if you try your best every day and keep a food and exercise log, youll start to see real results. Planning for a couple of weekly splurges can also help keep you honest the rest of the time. When my own motivation slips, I often look to my like-minded fitness and foodie friends for inspiration. You know the people I meanthe ones who really walk the walk and keep it real with consistent workouts and by eating right. After all, who among us would truly be successful without a partner or mentor in reaching our goals?

You may have had a specific goal in mind when you picked up The Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous Project. Perhaps you want to lose weight, change your body, eat better, or embrace healthier lifestyle habits. Perhaps you just need a support system. But no matter what, you want to love life while achieving your goals, right? Whatever your final destination, youve come to the right place. This is a judgment-free zone, where you can learn personal accountability and learn about what motivates you to stay on track. You may also figure out what road blocks are standing in your way, enabling you to break through and let go of behaviors that are no longer working for you. Just remember that your process of building behavioral changes is even more important than your goal of getting fit, because your process is what will enable you to make lifelong changes. Find your goal, commit to your vision, and realize your dream!

Stay Gorgeous!

Esther