While conducting research and interviews for a She Knows feature on great ways to get slim in time for summer, Kim Lyons, the amazing trainer from The Biggest Loser (she who creates miracles!) was kind enough to offer some invaluable tips on losing the weight fast and efficiently.

Get Ready for Bikini Season!

(with Kim Lyons, Trainer, NBC’s The Biggest Loser)

Bikini season is just around the corner and it’s time to get in shape. However, no crash diets allowed! You won’t keep the weight off and it will be miserable attempting to reach your goals. Along with a good exercise program, and by that I mean anything that gets you off the couch or out of the desk chair and moving your whole body, and sticking to these few basic nutrition tips you should see results in just a few weeks! Stick to it for a good 12 weeks and you will be shocked at the results!
Limit sugar consumption
If you eat too much sugar at once, the excess can be turned to body fat. Excess sugar triggers a surge of the hormone insulin, which activates enzymes that promote fat storage. You would be surprised how many foods contain large amounts of sugar. Cereal and fat free snacks are full of sugar. I trained a man who lost 6 inches off his waist, in one month, by cutting coke out of his diet. Need I say more!

Eat enough protein

Protein is key and 90% of the American population don’t get enough. Without protein, the body will eat on it’s own muscle. Protein provides essential amino acids to repair body tissues like muscle. Without protein you will lose metabolically active muscle and sabotage your fat loss efforts. Good sources of protein are white meat poultry, fish, lean red meats, skim milk, yogurt, tofu, beans, and cottage cheese.

Moderate carbohydrate intake
As energy foods, carbs are totally essential for exercisers and must be included in your diet. But, if you want to speed up your fat loss, change your carb intake slightly. When you reduce carbs, you body has less glycogen to run on and is forced to burn fat instead. This is tough, I know! We all love out pasta and bread. Here is what I suggest. Eat your pastas and breads before 3pm and only a few times weekly. Stick to veggies and proteins for late afternoon and dinner.

Know the right food portions

A nutritious diet includes the right servings and portions of the following food everyday.

4-5 servings of fruits and veggies

Example of one serving: 1 Medium piece of fruit, 1 Cup of raw veggies, or 1 cup cooked veggies

2-3 servings of low fat dairy products

Example 1 cup skim milk, yogurt, or nonfat cottage cheese or 2oz of fat free cheese

4-6 servings of natural complex carbs

Example ½ cup cooked whole grain cereal or rice, 2 tortillas, or 1 medium baked potato

1. 1. servings of protein rich foods

Example 2-3 oz of white chicken meat, fish, or lean red meat, ½ cup of cooked beans or legumes, or 2 egg whites

*Fats and oils-use unsaturated and keep to a minimum

Eat 4-5 times a day

Eating frequently throughout the day has several fat burning and nutritional advantages:

Higher calorie burn rate

More energy

Better absorption of nutrients

Less temptation to snack on “bad” foods

Think of your body a fireplace. If you throw a log on a hot fire it will burn fast. If you let the fire cool, it will take a long time to burn and possible not completely burn. So, keep fueling the body every few hours and your metabolism will burn the calories. If you eat every 6-8 hours, your metabolism will be slow and will be unable to burn the calories before they are stored as body fat. You may feel like you are always eating, but if you are eating small balanced meals, you will be surprised how well this works. Oh, and no excuses for people on the run, Tupperware will become your best friend!

If you pay attention to the style pages (as, it is, alas, my job to do), you will notice that a lot of these columns are featuring pretty darn similar products.

You don’t want to be like everyone else. And neither do I (especially since, my friends, I would then be doing you a giant disservice).

A few of the Internet haunts if you are looking for cool, original accessories and fashions not already on everyone’s radar:

Etsy.com - Don’t follow the trend, start the trend with handmade originals from a ton of up-and-coming designers. And while you are there, check out my good bud Allie’s store:

www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=78546

(Allie handmade scarves for me and our dearest this holiday season. She gets top props.)

Christabelle’s Closet Designer Retail Boutique (www.christabellescloset.com): Psst. Next month, I am going to THE PROM. It is the most exciting moment in a girl’s life. (Albeit when she’s already nearing the age of graydom.) In my pursuit for the perfect attire, I visited this site. Christabelle’s Closet has tons of designer names at liquidated prices. On last visit, I found a Kenneth Cole leather coat for under $100. Also check out their “Charity for Ro” section, where prices are slashed even further, and a portion of proceeds go to Parkison’s Disease research.

Do you know of any other cool “under the radar” shopping sites? Share!

I feel like the coming warm weather is making my denim obsession expand into a shoe obsession…and a t-shirt craving…and…I may need more hangers in my closet.

Some of the cutest discoveries I’ve made this week:

By Amy Tangerine (www.amytangerine.com), this embroidered-stitching t-shirt is the absolute cutest addition to a puppy-lover’s wardrobe. (Did I mention I love my babies? Yeah, a little.)

Warmbats (www.warmbat.com)! They are Australian sheepskin boots…but they are not Uggs. So, by owning them, I am not following the crowd. I am unique. Uniquely wearing boots in April and not caring because they provide much love and warmth. And there’s no shame in turning to inanimate objects for affection. None at all.

In my pursuit of summer sexiness, I’ve considered investing in hot hair extensions.

Remind to definitely not go where Nicole Richie went.

(photos taken from Dotspotter)

That poor girl.

There’s nothing quite like waking up to a rain of toads to make you want to grab your new bikini and escape to tropical parts unknown.

When I do finally run amok (under cloak of darkness so that no one follows me), I know exactly what I’m taking with me.

Last time I went on vacation, it was on a cruise to Cozumel. During this trip, my luggage got ripped (lazy me went for the drag, rather than carry, method), my sexy henna tattoo lasted all of five minutes, and my sexy-but-functional sandals set off the metal warnings at the airport. Needless, to say, I have stuck close to home since.

Now, I have found luggage though that even I can’t destroy. Titan luggage (www.titanluggageusa.com) is a well-known German brand now launching in the US. Made with 100% polycarbonate, it is scratch resistant and extremely durable. Aly-proof? It stands a chance.

I’ve realized the secret to travel success during my escape might also be traveling light, as to not arouse suspicion. In that vein, I’ve been quietly collecting trial sizes of all my necessities. Minimus.biz (www.minimus.biz), is the world leader in all things travel-sized, whether it be hair spray, towelettes, or breath mints you crave. I have amassed a small tote.

I’m ready.

Ahem.

I am happy to announce I have found the piece of beach wear I will be wearing all summer.

By Le Doux www.ledouxswimwear.com, the Femme Fatale style has a spaghetti strap side-tie bottom and a triangle top embellished with a Swarovski crystal skull design. From the moment we were brought together, I knew we were born to be united. (Especially since it matches my new Charm & Luck flip flops.)

However, it reminds me that wearing it means…wearing it. Along those lines, I should probably cease “wearing” my lychee martinis and cupcakes. With warmer weather around the corner, many people are looking for ways to get in shape for bathing suit season and we all want quick fixes to lose some bulk, whether it’s 5 or 15 pounds.

We are working on a She Knows feature on instant summer slimmers, but for those of us who can’t afford to wait to get started, here are some tips from Weight Watchers on how to be ready for your dream summer wear:

Sweat it out. The first step in getting that bathing suit bod is starting an exercise plan. With warmer weather upon us, now is the perfect time to get out and get a moving. Exercise doesn’t mean being cooped up in a gym - take the dog for a brisk walk or join a sports team and firm up those muscles.

Wander less. Steer clear of unhealthy foods while grocery shopping. Wandering down the junk food aisles – especially when you’re hungry – can lead to unplanned purchases of fat-laden chips and cartons of ice cream. Learn where things are shelved in the local supermarket and stick to the healthy aisles, like the fresh produce section – which is typically around the perimeter of the store.

Interact with others. Discuss goals and ask for tips from friends and during local Weight Watchers meetings. Sharing plans with other people can help keep up motivation and allow razor focus in the quest for that beach ready body. Chances are others in the group are working towards the same goal.

Maximize assets. A suit with gathered fabric across the waistline can create the illusion of an hourglass figure; shirring can also camouflage less than perfect parts. Suits designed with blocks of color help draw attention toward a favorite body part and away from areas of concern. Tie the outfit together with a beautiful sarong choosing a palette that matches or complements the suit.

Show off. Purchasing some new workout clothes and updating old sweats and t-shirts can help excite any workout. Getting some fun new active wear will kick-up the motivation to make use of it.

Uncover liquid liabilities. A lot of caloric intake comes from drinks. A cup of orange juice serves up 100 calories. A medium “skinny” latte pours on another 150 calories; while a margarita can add another 250 calories to your day. Water and calorie free beverages such as diet soda or teas are always a smart choices.

Include patience. Though progress may not be visible at first, stick to the plan and by the time summer rolls around the mirror will reflect a body that was worth working for. Consistency is key when getting in shape for swimsuit season!

Think baby steps. Small steps can add up to big changes, so it’s not necessary to eliminate all the favorites. Start with dropping some toppings. Cross out mayonnaise from that sandwich order and save 50 calories. Order a hamburger instead of a cheeseburger and toss out 100 calories. Skip the hot fudge on an ice cream sundae and melt away 150 calories.

My goal is to be as hot as the Le Doux model. Once I am, it’ll be my own pictures I post in femme fatale.

Just when I finally began to curb the panty habit, a new compulsion has begun to fester.

It all started with frost and a renewed appreciation of the almighty sweet. That little bit of ensuing winter pudge may stand between me and some of the hot spring fashions I am salivating after, but it cannot stop me from accessorizing. And on that fine note, I have found the ultimate must-have spring bag.

The Guess Amazon small tote is a small straw tote with ostrich embossed vinyl trims and braided loop handles that I believe was created by a higher being so I would have something to wear with that cute little lace sun-dress. When I find it in my size, that is. 

Check out the adorable knotted handkerchief detail. It comes in white or pink, but since I plan to be rocking my new pink toes and flip flops all summer, there really is no choice there …

Feel like classing up your look a little bit? It seems that the answer may be pearls. Word is, they are the latest trend, and a way of using subtle classic accessories to revamp your wardrobe. Pearls are also very versatile, and it’s easy to pair them with simple gold or silver chains already existing in your collection.

The downside? Pearls are usually pretty pricey - but they don’t have to be! If you are like me and trying to curb the habit of spending *way* beyond your means, check out Moon River Pearls. Their styles are hot and unique but none have sticker shock.

Check them out at www.moonriverpearls.com, and be sure to say you found them on Alytude. (We want Moon River love.)

When you spend all afternoon getting your hair done at one of the poshest joints in the city, only to wake up the next morning greeted by a rain of toads, chances are you will be a little cranky.

OK, a lot. Because what was yesterday my adorably bouncy shiny mane is now a nest of angry vines.

The universe does provide, however. And my day was rescued by the most exciting news to hit my palette since the discovery that chocolate was a health food.

Kashi this morning held a media event to announce the launch of a new product that would take their line in a whole new direction.

A product that, I firmly believe, will change my life. (And solidify my belief that one can indeed live on a solely Kashi diet.)

KASHI PIZZA.

All-natural, the pizzas will exist as part of their frozen food line, and features a stone-fired seven-grain and sesame blend crust complemented with flax seeds. Each serving has 4-5 grams of fiber and 15-19 grams of protein.

I do not use the L-word easily. In fact, I somewhat fear it, but I will say it loud and clear: I love Kashi Pizza. At the event, I got to sample the five cheese tomato, Mediterranean, AND Roasted Garlic Chicken varieties. (Yes, I had pizza for breakfast and have no guilt at all.) All are made with herb-tomato sauce, low-fat cheeses, and roasted veggies.

What does this mean? Never having to buy takeout again, eating pizza, and looking hot doing so. I am in love.

Ah…fun in the sun has never been all that much fun for me.

Picture a bulbous mass of tightly coiled ringlets subdued by the power of an ionic hair blower, a flat iron, some serum, and a prayer.

Humidity is blow-dry kryptonite, and one visit out into the wilderness of summer swelter may very well lead to frizz fright. I pride myself in being a bit of a caped crusader in the attempt to stand against said mist (which disguise itself as life-giving air), and stay sleek and frizz-free in spite of it.

When Ouidad www.ouidad.com, the curl experts, invited me to try out their Sun Shield treatment glaze, I was intrigued. Could I have found an ally in my eternal struggle?

The Sun Shield treatment goes on very similarly to a glaze that would be used for hair color, but this one is clear and helps keep hair healthy and shiny throughout the summer season. (The treatment can last 4-6 weeks.) After the glaze is allowed to bake into your hair for about a half hour, it is rinsed out with cool water, followed by styling. There is also a Sun Shield spray product to use at home which can be used as a leave-in spray to keep your hair soft and shiny (rather than stiffy, dry, and unmanageable, as the humidity truly wishes them to be). Formulated with ingredients that are comprised of 21 amino acids, proteins and sulfur in a base of an organic clear glaze, my hair didn’t not feel heavy after its application, as many salon moisture treatments tend to do.

While the Sun Shield won’t stop your hair from frizzing in inclement weather (only God can do that), it does provide the needed moisture curly hair needs to not frizz out of control - meaning that your hair will look and feel better, no matter how vile the aerial elements’ plot.