Read an Excerpt
The Skinny Confidential
A Babe's Sexy, Sassy Fitness and Lifestyle Guide
By Lauryn Evarts Page Street Publishing
Copyright © 2014 Lauryn Evarts
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-62414-045-7
CHAPTER 1
FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT
How many times have you heard the phrase, "fake it until you make it"?
I'm guessing a mil?
But have you put it into action?
Really, seriously, honestly ask yourself that question.
SERIOUSLY, SERIOUS?
So, you're feeling overweight and negative. Why not change your attitude? Start by radiating positivity.
If you don't feel positive, fake it.
When you project that energy into the universe, crazy things happen.
The sooner you start living and adopting a healthy, happy lifestyle, the sooner you'll get want you want.
We all have moments of insecurity, but faking confidence is what builds confidence. In many ways, it's a serious ability to be able to walk into a room and pretend like you know what the hell you're doing, when in reality you're completely clueless.
But practice makes perfect.
As with any skill, it takes work. So start practicing confidence. Confidence with your body image. Confidence in your job. Confidence in any relationship.
CONFIDENCE IN LIFE.
It's the key to a happy life. When you feel confident, you feel powerful. Tap into that confidence to achieve the body you've always wanted, the relationship you've always dreamed of, and/or the happy life you've always envisioned for yourself and for those important to you.
If you're eating like shit, you're not confident. You're probably feeling crappy because when you eat like shit, you feel like shit. Start eating healthful foods with confidence.
That's faking it until you make it.
If you want to get on an exercise plan, but you've never pulled the trigger, practice your new skill: confidence.
Start walking for ten minutes a day and add in weights a couple times a week. Fake your workout. Fake like you know what you're doing. With time and a little bit of discipline, you could discover that maybe, actually, you really like breaking a light sweat.
And then you're not faking it; you're loving it.
A relationship you're painfully insecure in? Make a decision. If you decide to continue the relationship, then know with confidence that you're the one who decided to put yourself in the situation. Therefore, it's up to you to be a confident mate.
And trust me; any partner is attracted to confidence.
With confidence comes happiness. Faking it until you make it is not necessarily being a fake person. It's changing the tone of your life.
I'll give you an example. My best friend wasn't a big reader. I told her to fake it.
She was obviously confused. What did I mean by "fake" reading?
Welp, I meant fake that you like to read.
So I gave her an easy, quick read. She read it. Slowly. But she finished the entire book.
From there, I had her progress to another quick read that was a bit longer.
She faked liking to read for about three books.
After her third book, she was hooked.
When she went out of her comfort zone, she realized she actually did like reading and was very good at it.
So good that my bestie now calls me with book recs. She's unstoppable.
The point is that sometimes when you fake something, you'll realize that you're actually quite good at it.
If you're an unhealthy person, start faking that you're a healthy person. Do the opposite of all your horribly unhealthy habits.
AND START TODAY. NOT TOMORROW. TODAY.
You just might find you actually like feeling amazing through exercise and diet.
I hope this book encourages you to step out of your comfort zone. I hope it encourages you to be confident, eat clean and sweat often.
Be the best version of you. Even if you have to fake it for a while.
CHAPTER 2
CRAVINGS, SCHMAVINGS
Cravings are like assholes. Everyone has one.
Or ten.
Because show me someone who DOESN'T crave a good handful of Cheez-It?!
LIKE, REALLY?
In any case, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that The Skinny Confidential lifestyle doesn't allow cravings.
I'm also not going to sit here and tell you that cravings are the devil and you should ignore them at all costs.
And I'm sure as hell not going to tell you to count your calories like they're dollar bills.
If you have a freaking craving, then have a small portion and move on with your life.
Here's the deal: If you obsess over anything (this includes men, too), it will bite you in the ass.
On that note, I guess I'll share my Flamin' Hot Cheetos story. But don't judge.
One day a few months ago, I had the brilliant idea to stay the F away from the red, MSG-filled little shits that turn anyone's fingers bright red.
But not just for a day. Not just for a month.
FOREVER.
I wanted to nip my awful craving in the bud, ya know?
Because for some reason, that's just what I crave. I can't help it.
Not chocolate-filled cookies.
Not salty-ass crackers.
And not even white bread.
Flamin'. Hot. Cheetos®.
They're just really freaking delicious. And they're so bad for you that it's almost embarrassing that I'm putting this horrendous food weakness into writing.
I'm telling ya, though, these overly salted, chemical sticks are truly addictive.
Like, seriously, balls-to-the-walls, can't-get-enough addictive.
I know, I know. Stop shaking your head in disgust, because I've done my research. And I know I might as well take a puff of a cig every time I eat a handful of Cheetos®.
So, weakness admitted. Now back to my brilliant idea: cutting out Cheetos®.
When I decided to ban Cheetos® like they were against my religion, I noticed I craved them even more.
SHOCKER.
Anything, and I mean anything that you ban from your life for good, you'll crave more.
My Cheetos® addiction was gnarly. After cutting them out, I noticed my upper lip was sweating and perspiring.
Not really, but you get the gist.
I was freaking seething for Flamin' Hots. I would have done creepy things to get my hands on a bag of those chemicals.
After one month of going Cheeto-less, I caved.
Sadly, I ate an entire bag like they were going out of style. In like, five seconds.
Gross?
I know (shaking my head).
BUT. You know what this little experience taught me?
EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.
I can't stress it enough.
Seriously.
It's simply not necessary (nor does it agree with my normally healthy lifestyle) to shove Cheetos in my face every day.
But every once in a while?
HELL YA.
Here's what I do now: I eat those red little dipshits when I'm having a craving (about two times a week) and I don't take the bag to bed with me.
Every, single, time I consume something that maybe isn't super healthful, I use portion-controlled kitchenware.
Because that, my friends, is called a lifestyle change. Not a diet. Not deprivation. A solution.
A solution to a situation that will spiral out of control if it becomes unmanageable.
When you deny a strong craving, that's exactly what you're doing, peeps.
You're fighting the inevitable craving.
Fix the problem before it gets super creepy. If you're dying for a banana split, go eat a freaking banana split.
But please, oh, please, practice portion control with each and every craving.
More about portion control:
I'm starting to notice that people would prefer to not really, actually know about true portion control.
Ignorance is not bliss.
KNOW YOUR FACTS!
Because portions are funny.
They sneak up on you if you're not careful.
Check out the portion control chart on the next page. Tattoo this onto your hand and/or memorize it.
As you can see, if you constantly overdo portions, it will sure as hell catch up to you — and your ass.
My biggest tip? I don't keep huge plates, bowls or cups in my house.
YUP, YUP, YUP.
All my kitchenware is premeasured to the appropriate portions.
It just makes life easier.
I don't have time to weigh out my meals (I mean, who does?). So having a preportioned bowl in arm's reach keeps me accountable.
Don't cheat yourself. Know how much you're eating.
Life's too short to obsess over foods in a negative way. Make food secondary, not primary.
BTW: You're going to slip up every once in a while, but the cleaner you eat, the better it will be when you do slip up. Eat clean as much as possible, and give in to your cravings in a smart way. Discipline's important, just like with anything else.
The point: If you're really craving something, and you're craving it so badly that after you've eaten a full meal you're still dying for it, then eat it.
But do yourself a favor and eat it in a portion-controlled bowl.
CHAPTER 3
SKINNY RECIPES THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR FREAKING LIFE
Eating healthy doesn't have to be some calorie-counting, crazy diet. The more you fuel your body with healthful foods, the better you'll feel and the better you'll look.
I hate when dietitians tell people to count calories. As if we all don't have enough going on.
I MEAN, RIGHT?!
Geez. I don't have time to sit down and write down every single thing I've eaten every day, plus add up the cals.
Let me give you an easier, more effective alternative that's worked wonders for me: Eat clean. Smaller portions. All in moderation. Make healthy eating and exercise a lifestyle, not a diet.
It's really not rocket science. Choose clean eats over chemicals.
For instance, if given the choice, always pick the all-natural, organic version.
But wait, what about products labeled "diet," "low-fat" or "100 calorie"?
Welp, sorry to burst your bubble: They're nasty. Diet foods are typically filled with artificial sweeteners, lack essential nutrients and don't help fight off diseases.
Eat the real deal: fresh, real foods.
Replace your diet foods with real foods and thank me later.
Think berries, sweet potatoes, seaweeds, salmon, every vegetable, super foods.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE SUPER FOODS:
+ Apples
+ Beans
+ Dark chocolate
+ Eggs
+ Garlic
+ Grapes
+ Green tea
+ Hot peppers
+ Kale
+ Lentils
+ Mushrooms
+ Nuts
+ Olive oil
+ Peaches
+ Pineapples
+ Pomegranates
+ Pumpkin
+ Quinoa
+ Spirulina
+ Sweet potatoes
+ Swiss chard
+ Watermelon
+ Wheat germ
+ Wild-caught salmon
Before I share my staple recipes, let me provide a disclaimer.
I'm not freaking Mario Batali. These measurements are not exact to the decimal. What I can promise is that they're clean recipes — so clean, they don't really need to be exact.
I'm not using flour, sugar or tons of salt — all of which require strict measurements.
For my recipes, if you want to add some more fruit or veggies or an extra egg, go for it.
If you're eating clean, do whatever floats your boat.
SO.
Here's a bunch of simple, easy recipes that aren't exact to the T, but they're all filled with delicious health benefits and will keep you full for a long-ass time.
BREAKY
A SEX KITTEN'S SALAD
Yes, a salad for breakfast. Weird? Just wait.
This is a fruit salad that will rock your world. It will set the tone for your day and give you sustainable energy. Enjoy this baby with a cup of green tea and you're ready to start the A.M. off right.
SERVES 1
1 handful of strawberries, sliced
1 handful of blueberries
4 hefty pineapple wedges, chopped
1 kiwi, skinned and diced
4 tbsp/30 g Greek yogurt
2 tbsp/20 g chia seeds
Cinnamon, to taste
Pumpkin pie spice, to taste
Nutmeg, to taste
Optional: fresh mint leaves
+ Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss lightly. Add extra spices on top. Garnish with mint (optional).
TWO-INGREDIENT PANCAKES
Let me introduce you to heaven on earth: two-ingredient pancakes. This recipe will change your Sunday mornings. Not only will you not feel bloated after a huge breakfast, but you'll feel full, satisfied and healthy!
SERVES: 1–2
½ cup/120 g ripe banana, very mashed
2 eggs
1 heaping tbsp/10 g flaxseed (optional)
Coconut oil cooking spray
Optional: pumpkin spice, cinnamon, berries and a few squeezes of lemon juice
+ Mix banana and eggs in a bowl. Add 1 heaping tbsp/10 g of flaxseed if you want your pancakes to really hold together well. Heat a skillet to medium heat and spray with coconut oil cooking spray. Scoop a bit of batter (think the size of a tennis ball for one pancake) onto the skillet. Cook until the edges are dry. You want your pancake thin. Flip. Cook till golden brown. Goal: 4 to 6 pancakes. I like to add about 3 dashes of pumpkin pie spice. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon, a few berries and a squeeze of lemon.
NOTE: If you're pressed for time, use a blender to mix ingredients.
A VERY VEGGIE SCRAMBLE
This veggie scramble is quick, easy and probably the best breakfast ever because it's full of protein. It will keep your metabolism at an optimal speed, too, because it's full of avocado and veggies. Enjoy this with a cup of green tea and you're golden!
SERVES 1 TO 2
1 white or red onion, chopped
A bit of coconut oil
2 eggs (none of that egg white shit here)
1 handful of arugula
½ tomato, diced
1 avocado, sliced
Optional: a side of pico de gallo or salsa verde
+ Sauté chopped onions in a little bit of coconut oil in a pan on low heat for 1 to 3 minutes. Beat the eggs with a fork or wire whisk. After a few minutes, pour eggs into the pan. While eggs are cooking, arrange a bed of arugula on a plate. Toss the tomatoes and avo slices on top of the lettuce. After the eggs are cooked to your liking, put them on top of your veggie medley. For a condiment, try pico de gallo or salsa verde.
NOTE: The reason I'm not a fan of cooking all the veggies into the eggs is that when you heat vegetables, they lose their nutrients. If you cook the eggs and then add the raw veg, you'll receive more healthy benefits. Also, if you want to add turkey or chicken (extra protein!!) to this scramble, go for it!
LUNCH
THE HOLY KALE
Ahhh, kale. If kale were a boy, I'd be crushin'! Kale is so cool and versatile. My favorite way to eat kale is in a salad. I die over it because it's so filling! This is my favorite salad.
SERVES 2
2 ½ heaping handfuls of kale, chopped
1 handful of baby arugula, washed
1 tangerine, peeled and sectioned
1 tomato, sliced
1 cup/100 g purple or white cauliflower, diced
1/3 cup/70 g scallions, chopped
½ avocado, diced
DRESSING
2 tbsp/10 g Dijon mustard
1 to 2 tbsp/15 to 30 ml of extra virgin olive oil
½ lemon
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Rosemary or basil, chopped
+ For the salad, combine kale, arugula, tangerine, tomato, cauliflower, scallions and avocado in a large bowl.
For the dressing, mix all ingredients together. Don't think I'm weird, but I like to shake my dressing up in a martini shaker (sans ice, obvi).
Toss salad with the dressing. Add a stick of rosemary or a few leaves of basil for garnish.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Skinny Confidential by Lauryn Evarts. Copyright © 2014 Lauryn Evarts. Excerpted by permission of Page Street Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.