Beautiful Inside Out

 

 

 

I’m sharing #Aveeno advocates in my life as a sponsored series for Socialstars™

You know I often talk about beauty and how I’ve made it my life’s mission to live a healthy and fulfilling life!

I have received so many comments and questions on how to stay beautiful and age gracefully, that I’ve decided to share with you some of my daily nutrition mantras, which I believe help delay those unwanted marks time insists on imprinting on our skin and body overall.

My trip to Brazil put a smile on my face and a few pounds on my body so, more than ever, I am determined to take my beach body back and live a healthier life!!

Weekly Nutrition Tips

Control Those Carbs

I follow a low carb diet, substituting bread and pasta for vegetables. For example, I love tacos, but instead of tortillas, I make Lettuce Boats, placing meat, cheese and low fat sour cream on top of the lettuce.

Eat More Foods Instead of Less

I plan my shopping trip and add a different variety of vegetables and fruits every week to avoid boredom and to ensure that I will have a healthy option, every time the cravings knock on my door. This prevents me from falling back on unhealthy snacks.

Don’t Diet

I don’t like the word diet, it has never worked for me. I believe in a long term healthy relationship with food which will eventually bring the results I’m looking for. I stick to 1,200 – 1,500 calories per day, instead of a more strict approach, which will allow me to feel satisfied without feeling hungry and will guarantee a long term plan, instead of a crash weight loss which is proven not to last.

Now let’s get to specifics:

Here are my go to food groups and snacks, which I always keep in my fridge and pantry:

 

Favorite snacks:

Popcorn – loaded with fiber, this is my late night weapon against binging on sweets.

Peanuts – fiber packed legumes, peanuts help me curb my calorie intake and burn them too.

Spicy sauce – I love sriracha and other spicy sauces. I use the sauces with veggies or in between meals. Did you know that sriracha is made with chili peppers which are rich in appetite suppressants, according to a study developed by the University of California? I use it blended with Mayo and add it to salads as well or barbecue rubs! So good!

Dark Chocolate – it makes me less hungry and helps my sugar cravings. It is also my choice for mousses and cakes.

Other Favorites:

Eggs – they are the best protein source on the planet, so I use them for breakfast, lunch and late night snack.

Bell Peppers- great source of vitamin C, I have them in my fridge all year long. I use them in my Hispanic recipes, on the grill or raw with low fat ranch sauce!!!

Yogurt – I know a lot of sources advocate against dairy products, but low fat yogurt is a must have for me. I use it on smoothies, parfaits, substituting sour cream and to make salad dressings. Plus, it is proven to flatten my abs, so yes, I do have yogurt as a must have. Greek is my favorite!

No Dairy – I did observe though, that after I had milk or creamer, my belly was suddenly bloated! So I replaced it with almond milk and coconut milk and I use a non-dairy creamer in my coffee.

Don’t forget:

Water is an essential ingredient for a healthy body and skin. I drink plain and infused water all day!!!

Planning your meals and staying away from fast food and frozen options will help you make healthier choices. And if you are not sure how many calories you should be taking in a day or need help planning out your meals, you could always engage an online nutrition coach.

It’s OK to cheat once in a while, as long as you get back on track.

Skin Care 101:

Along with a solid nutrition plan, we can’t forget that beautiful skin means daily care, so you can’t skip:

• Cleaning and removing make up before you go to bed, and using AVEENO POSITIVELY RADIANT MAKEUP REMOVING WIPES
• Applying a moisturizer with SPF daily and using a specific sunscreen lotion for your face, this is my favorite: Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 15

 

 

Also want to address the huge misconception that you should skip treating your skin in the summer, because the sun will act against the products. I use Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Intensive Renewal Serum all year long. I apply it at night, massaging my face and leave excess under my eye and around the mouth areas, which are the most targeted locations for stubborn wrinkles for me. Why I love it?

• I love it because it can improve the appearance of your skin and can visibly reduce wrinkles in one week. It also strengthens my skin’s natural moisture barrier to maintain younger, healthier-looking skin over time. I’ve been using it since last year and I love the results!
• It also has a concentration of ACTIVE NATURALS Blackberry Complex infused with vitamins, antioxidants, and powerful anti-aging ingredients

What are your secrets to a healthy and beautiful skin? What are your summer must do tips? Can’t wait to hear from you! As usual, give us a Trendy Shout!!!