How to get into shape for Christmas without compromising on the fun? It’s the dilemma of the festive season.

Although many of us want to shift the pounds, diets that ban alcohol are something of a curse in December — the most sociable month of the year.

But, ladies, raise your glass to the latest one taking New York by storm.

The Champagne Diet not only allows alcohol, but actively encourages a daily flute or two as part of a weight-loss plan.

According to Cara Alwill Leyba, 31, who came up with the regime, the Champagne Diet is two parts healthy living, one part fun.

Following the plan, she claims to have transformed herself from someone constantly depressed about her weight to a slimmer woman with more of a lust for life. And, she says, it could work for you.

Read more: http://www.thechampagnediet.com

Who says Champagne has to be enjoyed by itself? Here are some of my favorite Champagne cocktails when you want to spice up your favorite bubbly! And remember, any of these cocktails can be made with either Champagne or sparkling wine.

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French 75

1 shot gin
1/2 shot lime juice
1 tsp sugar
Champagne

Shake the gin, lime juice and sugar with ice cubes. Strain and pour into a Champagne flute. Pour Champagne on top, and garnish with a lemon twist.

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French Chambord Champtini

1 1/2 oz vodka
1/4 oz Chambord® raspberry liqueur
1/4 oz fresh pineapple juice
1 twist lemon peel

Pour ingredients into a tall glass. Shake with ice, pour into a martini glass and serve.

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Classic Bellini

1 medium ripe, peeled and pureed peach
4 – 6 oz Champagne or sparkling wine

Pour peach puree into glass and slowly add champagne. Stir gently. Garnish with a peach slice.

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Vanilla Pear Bellini

2 oz pear nectar
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 oz vanilla infused vodka
3 oz chilled, dry Champagne
1/2 cup crushed ice

Mix the peach nectar, lemon juice and vodka in a chilled glass. Add half a cup (or more) of crushed ice, stir, and add the champagne. (Serves 2).

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Kir Royale

1 part creme de cassis
5 parts Champagne

Pour creme de cassis into a glass and gently pour champagne on top

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Passion Mimosa

2 oz chilled passion-fruit juice
Champagne
strawberries

Pour passion fruit juice into a champagne flute. Fill with chilled champagne, decorate with a strawberry, and serve.

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French Revolution

2 oz brandy
1/2 oz framboise raspberry liqueur
3 oz chilled Champagne

Pour the brandy and framboise into a mixing glass half-filled with ice cubes. Stir well, and strain into a champagne flute. Add the champagne, and serve.

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Pink Sunshine

4 oz chilled Champagne
4 oz chilled orange juice
1 dash creme de cassis

Pour the champagne into a cocktail glass. Add the orange juice and creme de cassis.

Source:http://www.thechampagnediet.com

Are you passionate about the work you are doing? About the way you are living your life? Do you bounce out of bed every morning, with a zest for life, switched on by your goals? Are you infused with ideas that you simply can’t wait to share with the world? Are your energy levels buoyant, are you positive in heart and mind, in tune with your co-workers, your family, your friends, switched on and inspired?

Or…  not?

At the end of the year, some of us can feel (to put it nicely) rather burned out. So what better time to come back to zero – to reflect on what makes us really truly happy in our hearts, so we can enjoy the life-juice that makes us want to sing our passions out loud?

Living out our passions and following our dreams takes guts, creativity, flexibility, the will to work, often way harder than we have ever worked for anyone before. The risks may be greater, the way, the how to’s initially unclear… Yet the journey and results are incredibly rewarding.

Passion: Let’s break this wonderful word down.

Pass I on: You are literally, passing on the best of yourself when you are working with passion, creatively expressing yourself with passion, making love… indeed, with passion.

Pass ION: We are all made up of vibrating particles of energy. When you are doing what you are passionate about, you are what is commonly known as in alignment with your purpose. Your energy is flowing effortlessly, you feel so inspired that motivation does not even come into it. You are focused and fuelled with a natural flow of feel-good energy that radiates from every pore.

So how do you uncover YOUR passions? And live them, from the boardroom to the bedroom and beyond?

Richard Branson, Martin Luther King, Madonna, the majority of the world’s greatest artists, DJs, businessmen, performers, painters and designers among others all have followed their passions and dared to pursue their dreams. For themselves and, very often for a higher purpose and a greater good too.

So where do you begin? By uncovering what it is that truly makes your HEART sing and enjoying the ripples of magic this creates for your world around you!

• Find a quiet place and time, when you can unplug fully from the have to’s of daily life and retreat. Holidays are perfect when you can find you-space
• Switch off any distractions, beeps and phones
• Take time to get comfortable, put on soft music or listen to the wind in the trees if outside
• Take five deep breaths, inhaling the air to oxygenate your body and quiet your mind
• Draw a heart on a peace of paper and bring one hand onto your heart, breath into your heart-space, feel yourself and feel your body
• Imagine as if anything and everything is possible, just as if you are a six-year old child watching Walt Disney movies
• Now allow yourself to stay in this imaginary zone… let your imagination run wild with all the things that make your heart sing and write about it

Allow your unconscious mind to speak by allowing your writing to flow. These things do not have to be work-related NOR do they have to be financially incredible investments.  The important thing is that you feel as turned on by these ideas in as many romantic, sensual ways as you would a fabulous holiday romance.  Allow them to be as colorful, bright and beautiful as you wish – the brighter the better…

Just like the moguls and icons we aspire to, these ideas, these feeling-led wishes can then be sculpted and crafted to feel realistic too. But first you need to color and paint and allow your creative genius to speak from your heart. Because this is the source of your inner-truth, your inspiration.

The benefits of following this inner-led-path?  Unlike short-term rewards or perfectly-mapped-out-timelines, the most beautiful jewels, the real gold, is there for those that do, and not just at the end of the rainbow; when you are consciously daring to do what you dream – with awareness – just like  in Paulo Coehlo’s famous book, The Alchemist, you actually do find that the treasures are in the journey too.

Dare to live your dreams and get your life glowing…

Have you started thinking about your Christmas present list for Santa yet? A slimmer waist, a new outlook on life, less junk food in your diet? If those (or similar) are some of things that might be on your wish list, don’t dismiss them as silly dreams – they’re all easily within reach and it doesn’t take a fat man in red to help you achieve them, just you.

Before we get properly into the silly season and swamped with parties, family obligations and travel, it’s a good time to reflect on what you might want to change in your life and how you might go about making those changes. After all, soon you’ll be munching on mince pies and drinking too much, so the exercise dodging excuses will be coming thick and fast, but if you can identify what you’d like to achieve next year and start making head roads, then your Christmas blowout can be more guilt free.

January is obviously a great time to start with any new projects, including fitness,but the trouble is, January is still quite a way off and many people hurl themselves into a new diet or workout regime straight off the back of festive excess. That’s called setting yourself up to fail. What if you make a commitment now for your exercise and body goals and start gently easing towards them in the run up to December?

This way you’ll already have a clear idea of what you want to do and where you want to be when January rolls around, and the base level you start from will be that little bit higher than if you leave it.

In truth, this is a great time to start working out and/or adopting healthy eating habits It doesn’t matter where you are: The weather is much more conducive to start running through the forest or along the coast is glorious – Nature is showing it’s beautiful autumn colors to you.

If you’re struggling with motivation, grab a friend and you can egg each other on. Training with a partner means you’ll be more likely not to skip those workouts, plus it’s fun to train with other people. Better still, join a class or get a personal trainer to maximise your results and make sure you’re set up for a great Christmas.

Cat’s out of the bag Naomi! Naomi’s skincare secret along with dozens of other Hollywood hotties like Eva Longoria, Molly Sims and Justin Timberlake (“It makes my skin look dope.”) is the Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusion Treatment and product line – now available at a spa near you.

Developed in Australia, the infusion treatments are performed by a skincare professional using a three-step process to drive the innovative products deep into the skin. They call it hyaluronic layering – a non-invasive process that harnesses the deeply hydrating action of hyaluronic acid to diminish the appearance of fine lines, sagging and lackluster skin. Using an infusion wand, the therapist first uses a cooling, pressurized oxygen system to deliver the vitamin-rich serum. Next, a hydration gel is applied that prevents moisture loss. Finally, a binding cream is applied that provides a layer of intense hydration.

Take-home products enhance the treatment results and come in four lines to target various skin concerns: Rejuvenate (anti-aging), Opulence (brightening), Clarity (healing) and Atoxelene (a wrinkle smoothing injection alternative). Products are highly concentrated so a little goes a long way. Standouts include the Clarity Blemish Repair stick – a healing, redness-reducing wand with a replaceable tip to prevent contamination and the Opulence Brightening Wand – a soft brush tip that delivers a dose of luminosity to patchy or uneven skin tone.

The Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusion treatment and skincare line is available at the Chill Out Spa Amsterdam learn more about Intraceuticals treatments and products, visit http://chilloutspa.nl

There are exercises that target your abs to help you get the rock-hard stomach you’ve always dreamed of. But if you really want to double-team belly bulge, you’ll need to eliminate sugar and processed carbs while also incorporating fat-burning foods into your diet. Keep reading to see which foods can help trim inches from your waistline! To help you lose that stubborn fat and cellulite check out our Bodysculpture. 

Oatmeal

You may think that eating less will help you lose weight, but you should never skip meals, especially the first meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast jump-starts your metabolism, regulates your blood sugar levels, and gives you energy to carry you through lunchtime. Fiber-rich oatmeal is a great option because it’s filling, so you won’t indulge in a muffin or bagel by midmorning. Opt for plain oatmeal since the flavored brands can be full of sugar.

Blueberries

Research has shown that a diet rich in blueberries may help diminish belly fat. Even if blueberries are frozen, they maintain most of their nutritional benefits.

Almonds

It’s said that MUFA (monounsaturated fats) are a secret ingredient that helps burn away belly fat. Almonds are a good source of monounsaturated fats and help curb cravings since they are a good source of vegetable protein and fiber

Salmon

Cutting down on fried, fatty, calorie-rich foods in order to obtain lean abs is a must. What’s great about lean proteins like fish, tofu, or turkey meat, is that they provide you with lots of energy and burn more calories when digested.

When choosing a fish, try salmon or tuna since they are both high in omega-3s, which reduce inflammation in the body and can help regulate your hormones

Lettuce

Green veggies like romaine or arugula lettuce, spinach, and broccoli are not only packed with vitamins and minerals, low in calories, but contain a high amount of fiber as well. Make yourself a ginormous salad for lunch and it’ll keep you filled throughout the afternoon. Or have a smaller salad before a meal, and you’ll find yourself eating less of the main course.

(Source: Fitsuga)

When a person has been smitten and bitten by love, it leaves an irreversible mark upon the heart. This love has the incredible ability to not only reach the heart but to penetrate to the deepest core of one’s being the soul, leaving a person thirsty and desirous for more, as if they had been stranded in the desert looking for the reviving waters of a hidden oasis.

Once love finds its resting place in the soul, it not only arrests the attention of the bearer, but life as they once knew it, is never the same. When you are touched by love, it leaves you spell bound as if some mystical transformation had taken place, in a maddening kind of way. Everything around you seems to be heightened and magnified. All of your senses seem to find this place of nirvana that makes your heart sang and dance. Your world is embraced and infused by the most surprisingly unique feeling of euphoria and glee.

We have to understand, that love is a power all to itself. It can’t be controlled or contained. The true facts are love finds you, you don’t find love. You can be walking aimlessly down the street, without a care in the world, when all of a sudden love finds you, as if you’re hit by a bolt of lightening to awaken dazed and bewildered.

The amazing thing is when you try to make love happen it seems to be elusive, and cloaked in secrecy, yet directed by its own sovereignty, love reigns masterfully on its own. When it comes to falling in love, the down side is that we risk not only vulnerability, but we also risk being rejected as well.

But in a perfect picture, love has the way of finding two people, that are completely opposites and bringing them together, and its feelings and emotions are never duplicated. Wonderment about love is that when it comes to having a love connection, age, nationality, religion, doesn’t matter. Love is blind, and is only truly moved by heart felt feelings and emotion. Love has the supernatural power to overcome any type of barrier.

The fascinating thing about love is that it is motivated and stimulated by not only its own power but, its own time. Hidden under a veil is the secret time when love decides to reveal itself. It is capable of hiding its feelings and emotions until it is comfortable of revealing its true intentions.

Because of the delicacy of love it has to always be handled tenderly and gently, it is fragile as glass. It can shatter into a million tiny pieces if not handled with delicacy and appreciation.

The force behind love is unshakable. Unconditional love has the power to forgive all things, endure all things and believe all things. No doubt at all, Love is a powerful force to be reckoned with, something that we covet so greatly.

(source: http://bellapetite.com)

Don’t let worry and anxiety drag you down; instead follow these tips on how to stop worrying.

When it comes to worrying, the solution is as simple as mind over matter. “The imagination is the most powerful human mental function,” “It’s a great problem solver when used properly, but when we let it run away, it can put us on a hamster wheel of repetitive worry that drags us down,

Here are his four steps for developing a good worry habit:

• Get a Clue: Identify the root cause of what’s eating at you. Write down everything that you’re worried about — from little to big worries, even the mediocre ones. Don’t judge yourself; just write down everything that’s in your head.
• Get a Grip: Acknowledge what is and what is not in your power. Sort the worries into three columns: things that you can’t do anything about, things you can do something about, and things you’re not really sure you can do anything about. As an example: you can prepare your house for a hurricane (a worry you can do something about), but you can’t do anything about the actual hurricane (a worry you can’t do something about).
• Get a Plan: Figure out what you need to do and how you need to get it. For worries you can’t do anything about, I suggest learning how to make them positive, rather than negative. “if you’re about to hit a golf ball and there’s a lake, you don’t want to be worrying about hitting the ball in the lake, because then you’ve created a mental image of just the lake,You want to identify a spot and tell yourself that you’re going to hit the ball there, instead of thinking about the lake.” When you put your intention into a positive situation, your negative thoughts will wane.
• Get a Move-On: Put your plan into action. Continue to focus on positive outcomes. To help with the worries in your can-do-something column, I suggest learning to take effective action through guided imagery and good planning skills.

Chill Out SPA verscheen in het Juni/Juli 2011 nummer van JFK.

JFK over de BodySculpture in Chill Out SPA: Met deze massage kun je vooral plaatselijk gewicht verliezen. Wij vinden de massage ontspannend en inspirerend.

‘More Chill Out SPA in the press’