10 DIET TIPS THAT REALLY WORK:

I don’t know about you, but I am so tired of spending my time reading articles like ‘How to lose 20 pounds in 20 days and keep it off.’ False Advertising! Give me a break, if losing weight was that easy we wouldn’t have fat people. Dieting is hard, but here are some things you can do that really will work:

1) Eat breakfast – ‘Brekkie’ kick starts your metabolism and stops you getting ravenous and stupid later in the day.

2) Don’t eat white (It’s similar to the whole ‘don’t wear white’ philosophy – I’m seeing a trend here.) The colour culprits to avoid are bread, pasta, sugar and potato.  Now don’t just go eat tons of wholewheat cake just because it’s not white – rye breads and fresh veggies (green is a good colour; this goes for your lifestyle too)

3) Snacking really works, as long as you not snacking on cheese curls and butterfingers. Stick to 150-200 calorie snacks between meals. It keeps your blood sugar level and in my case it also helps to keep my temper in check. I admit it, I’m a bitch when I’m hungry and nobody likes a bitch.

4) If you are going to a party, the finger food that will be served is the diet devil! Eat a light snack before you go, it will keep you going until dinner and help you resist the chips and dip.

5) Eat off a smaller plate, so that your portion size is smaller. My alternative here if you don’t want people to notice this odd behaviour is ‘leave a little for the mouse.’ You don’t ever need to clear your plate.
6) Spice up your life – I’m talking about your plate not your bed (although that does go on my top 10 exercise tips.) Spicy food helps keep hunger at bay and the pepper increases metabolism – just don’t over do it, if you can’t eat the food, you’ll go hungry and you’ll be eating huge slices of white cake at eleven at night.

7) Soup and salad makes for a great diet meal. Veggie soup is low in calories (not the creamed one ladies) so you can eat more of it if you are hungry.

8) Don’t do the grocery shopping on an empty stomach. If you do, your trolley, unbeknownst to you or the powers of the dietary universe, will suddenly be filled with convenience food, chocolates, chips and pastries. Eat before you shop and if you don’t have time, grab some ready-to-eat baby carrots or grapes off the shelf and snack while you shop.

9) Grilled and steamed is always better than fried, but one day a week allow yourself an indulgence. Not only will it keep you sane, but it can be a great motivator giving you something to look forward to.

10) Oh, breastfeeding is also a great way to burn calories, but getting pregnant and having a baby has to come first and that seems a lot of work to burn that extra 500 calories a day.

'Ye Old' DVD review - The Goonies

This is an all time classic movie that made everyone run and dig through their attics in the hopes of finding a treasure map. This week I recommend reliving old childhood fantasies with this one.


Mikey and Brandon Walsh are brothers whose family is being forced to move by developers unless enough money can be raised to stop construction. It's looking bad and it seems that this group of friends is about to be split up until Mikey stumbles upon a treasure map of the famed "One-Eyed" Willy's hidden fortune. Mikey, Brandon, and their friends who call themselves The Goonies, set out on a quest to find the treasure in hopes of saving their neighborhood. The treasure is in a cavern, but the entrance to the cavern is under the house of the evil Mama Fratelli and her criminal sons. Can they escape these criminals and do the impossible?

Movie trivia:

Jeff Cohen (Chunk) got the chicken pox after he got cast and showed up to set anyway, afraid that they would have replaced him otherwise.

The model ship seen sailing at the film's end has a miniature R2-D2 (Star Wars 1977) hidden on the deck.

With memorable quotes like these:

Mama Fratelli: The only thing we serve here is tongue! You boys like tongue?

Brandon Walsh: I'm gonna hit you so hard that when you wake up your clothes will be out of style! 

Chunk: You guys, I'm hungry. I know when my stomach growls there's trouble. 

Let's crack out the old truffle shuffle, who's with me?

INTERVIEW WITH JASON VON BERG ON THE VON VODCAST

I sat down with South Africa's very own Ryan Seacrest for 'The Vodcast' interview on September 11 (Jason's birthday) to chat movies, mayhem and pineapple dacquiris.


Check it out below:

PEOPLE MAGAZINE - MY TRAVELS

Where have you been on holiday recently?

The last holiday I took was over December/January when I went to New York, Aspen and Los Angeles. I spent a quiet Christmas in New York with family and friends. It’s like going home for me because I used to live there. We had the craziest New Year because there was a bomb scare and the whole of downtown Aspen was evacuated. Luckily, the police found the bombs and none of them detonated, but Aspen celebrated New Year’s Eve on January 1^st this year. I love LA and I was lucky enough to get invited to the BAFTA/LA cocktail party for the Golden Globe nominees where I bumped into my dear friend Hakeem Kae-Kazim on the red carpet.

Name your favourite holiday destination. 

For a summer holiday, I really enjoy Capri. It’s a tiny island off the coast of Italy that Tiberius and Caligula used for debaucheraus partying in ancient Roman times. It is really beautiful and you can swim into the caves in the sea or go on long hikes around the island. Locally, I love going up to Jeffries Bay for the Billabong Pro. It is a really relaxed atmosphere and I enjoy sitting on the beach playing backgammon and watching the world’s best surfers catching some waves.

If you were offered a trip to any destination in the world, where would you go?

It has long been a dream of mine to go to the Amazon and Peru. I have a passion for ancient cultures and would totally love to see the Aztec pyramids and learn more about Mayan culture and mythology.

What has been your worst and best holiday experience and why?

My best holiday experience was when I got to go to the Monza Grand Prix. I am a huge Formula 1 fan and was lucky enough to be invited to have breakfast with Jenson and his team on the morning of the race. I even got to sit in his car to get a real feeling of what it’s like to drive in one of the fastest cars on earth. We stayed in Lake Como, which is a picturesque paradise. George Clooney has a house there, but unfortunately I didn’t spot him anywhere. Not for lack of trying, I promise. My worst holiday experience was when I went to visit my then-boyfriend in London. He was immigrating to the US, but was spending a couple months in London first. I went to visit because I missed him so much and we had a great week together. On the last day, he had a flight out first thing in the morning and my flight home was only that night. When we said goodbye I thought my heart was going to break and I had to spend the whole day wandering around a strange city all on my own. I ate a Pret-a-Manger sandwich alone in the park that day and watched all the other couples laughing and having fun together. I have never felt more alone.

What are your five must-have items to pack?

My Blackberry is my newest toy and I am obsessed with using it for twitter and BBM. For long haul flights I always keep La Mer’s ‘The Mist’ in my carry on to keep my skin moisturized. In true Diva style, I travel with a pillow, which drives my family crazy because it takes up so much space but hotel pillows give me headaches and that equals grumpy Lee-Anne, which is a much worse inconvenience to all. My I-pod is a constant travel companion of mine because every good trip deserves a killer soundtrack. Last, but not least, whether it’s a holiday in the sand or on the slopes, I always take Bobbi Brown’s tinted moisturizer with SPF to protect my face from the sun.

Have you ever taken anything out of a hotel room that didn’t belong to you?

Yes, I confess, my inner Wynona is always adding to my hotel slipper collection.  I also always pilfer the showercaps to give to my friend Shelley. She now refuses to buy them, so as a good friend I am forced to steal them for the sake of her curly hair.

Where is your dream honeymoon destination?

I am a very active person and I don’t enjoy lying and baking in the sun all day, so I would love to possibly go to New Zealand. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth and is also an absolute mecca for extreme sports. From bungee junping to river rafting, New Zealand has it all. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, I still have to fnd someone crazy enough to want to marry me.

Do you prefer five-star hotels or self-catering?

I prefer five-star accommodation all the way. I don’t go on holiday to cook and clean up after myself. I like to wake up in a plush hotel suite between Egyptian cotton sheets with the sun pouring in through the huge windows. And lets not forget, five star has the best slippers.

Who is your ultimate travel companion?

I like traveling with people that are easy going and who are always up for new experiences. I am a bit of a prankster, so a good sense of humor is a must and if a person embarrasses easily they should rather steer clear. Traveling with good friends is always fun because I find you meet more people that way. My best friend Shelley and I have traveled extensively together and I always have the most fun, as well as getting up to the most mischief, with her by my side.

If you could travel with any Hollywood celebrity, who would it be and why?

This is tough; it’s one of three. Cameron Diaz would be a cool travel partner, she’s pretty adventurous and also laid back. We could do a surf safari together. Shia la Boeuf, because of the whole Indiana Jones thing, which would work well with my whole archaeology, ancient ruins thing. Paul Walker would also be great to travel with because I could stare at him with his top off all day long.

What’s the strangest cuisine you’ve eaten? 

This is my one conservative area; I don’t eat outside the box, so to speak. I have eaten Unagi (eel) in New York and crocodile at a game farm once. Personally though, I prefer to see animals in the wild and not on my plate.

Have you ever had a holiday romance?

Yes, It was one December in Mauritius when I was about 16. He was a gorgeous Frenchman whose accent was only overshadowed by his movie star goodlooks – I had a crush on him for an excruciating three summers before he eventually noticed me. It was a typical Hollywood movie coming of age type of experience that every girl hopes for. We never kept in touch, which is sad, but it will always be that perfect romantic memory.

What are some of your favourite things you have bought?

My ‘Sex and the City’ Dior shoes that Carrie wears throughout the movie. I was in London when the movie came out and I searched everywhere for them. I eventually found them 6 months later in Bloomingdales in New York – on sale no less - and I even have video footage of the treasured moment. My JBay sweatshirt from the Billabong Pro is my favorite top to snuggle in when it’s cold. It’s a memento from a great holiday with friends and it always makes me smile.

Have you ever learned about any different customs or traditions?

Catalan culture in Spain is wonderful. I got to spend some time in Barcelona and see Gaudi’s church, Sagrada Familia and enjoy the flambouyant cuisine. The church construction began in 1882 and won’t be completed before 2026! I also really enjoyed my trip to Zululand where we got to sample the traditional food and beer (which they keep refilling if you leave your cup upright). We got to stay in huts and learn about traditional wedding ceremonies. It is such a beautiful area and so rich with culture.

Is there a particular destination that you will never get tired of visiting?

The game reserve is somewhere I will go to for the rest of my life. It is by far my favorite place on the planet and I try to go a few times a year. I always come back recharged and feeling a little more grounded. I never get tired of watching the animals and learning about all the natural remedies you can find in the bush. The inherent mix of beauty and cruelty in the wild never ceases to amaze me.

Rocking the runway

Last week I once again traded places from being a front row fashionista to a runway model for Hyde Park's Trend show. I got to strut my stuff in clothes from Callaghan and Max Mara, both from Hyde Park Shopping centre.

The Piper champagne was a welcome nerve calmer and I am so happy to report that I once again made it down the runway and back with out landing flat on my face.

YAY ME!

GUY CANDY OF THE MONTH - RYAN BOTHA

Affectionately known as 'South Africa's David Beckham,' Ryan is one of the countries hottest soccer stars and all round great guy.

This Moroka Swallows attacking midfielder has played international soccer in Finland and Turkey, but to the great pleasure of local women all over South Africa, he returned home not so long ago. Setting the celebrity scene on fire since his return, he has already been nominated for You magazine's Sexiest Male and Cleo bachelor of the year.

What most people don't know is that he has a wicked sense of humor and is quite the prankster.

I would offer to auction off his number too (see last months guy candy, Bjorn Steinbach) but this one's taken...

SEX AND THE MOTHER CITY VOLUME 2 - Don't get mad, get busy

Forget revenge ladies, that is like so 2008. It only ends up making you look lonely and desperate, not too mention totally psycho.  All of you know what I’m talking about; we’ve all done it. You are out with your friends and are constantly looking over your shoulder for HIM to walk in. You’re sure he’ll be here tonight, its where all his friends hang out. You don’t listen to anything anyone else says to you, but instead you just nod vacuously while they go on and on blah blah blah. Then HE walks in and it starts. The ‘I’m so over you’ act. The outrageous flirting with guys that you would never touch, the over the top downing of shots at the bar and the raucous laughter aimed at nothing in particular.

Sorry to disappoint but they got the memo on this one, they know this trick. Quite frankly, its shamefully obvious and only ends in you doing ‘the cringe’ the next day. You know that too, the shivers down your spine when you soberly dwell on your behaviour the night before.

NO, no, there is a much better way to make him squirm in his own pathetic juices.  This one is also a win-win because the end result is him lying in a pool of his own tears and you not really caring either way.  It’s so simple that it actually borders on genius: Get busy. That’s it, the magic formula.

First of all, get out a pen and paper and make a wish list. NO, not that one. Not ‘I wish he would call’, ‘I wish he would realize what he’s missing.’ Throw that list in the trash, better yet, burn that little baby. I am talking about the wish list to end all wish lists. An A-Z of all the things you would love to do if you had the time. We all have one. For example, learn Spanish or take up dance class. Spend more time with friends or visit more art galleries. We all have reams of things we wish we had time for. Well guess what, now that you have been freed you have the time.  Don’t sit at home crying into your lonely glass of red wine. Embrace this unexpected gift of time, use it for good. Before you know it your whole world will have opened up. Enrique the Spanish teacher may have asked you out. A weekly dance class will not only do wonders for the body but will give you some fabulous new moves on the dance floor. You may feel even more loved by spending time with friends. Getting busy will open you up to a world of new experiences and give you a newfound confidence to embrace life and yourself.

Best of all, nothing makes a guy feel like he made the biggest mistake of his life than seeing his ex glowing and genuinely happy…

'Ye Old' DVD review -Can't Buy Me Love

Before Patrick Dempsey became everyone's favorite McDoctor on Grey's Anatomy and a Rom Com leading man in movies like Sweet Home Alabama and Enchanted he had an entirely different kind of acting career. In fact, McDreamy made his name playing the lovable McNerd in movies like Loverboy and this weeks DVD pick, Can't Buy Me Love.

The original Title of the movie was actually, "Boy Rents Girl" - Hello??? porno much?

When Ronald Miller tires of being a nerd and spending Saturdays at an all geek poker table he makes a deal with one of the most popular girls in school to help him become ultra cool. He offers her a thousand dollars to pretend to be his girlfriend for a month. His plan totally works, but he soon learns that the price of popularity may be higher than he originally paid.

With memorable quotes like:

Chuckie Miller: Cards with the tards. Who could beat a night of cards, chips, dips and dorks?

Patty: I mean, he went from totally geek, to totally chic!

Kenneth Wurman: Look, It's the African ant eater ritual!

This 80's classic gave hope to the 'Everyguy' and had cheerleaders looking at the lawnboy in a whole new light. For about 5 minutes. 


Nonetheless, let's dim the lights and microwave the popcorn... 

Lion Fight Club

The African bush is one of my favorite places on earth and I truly am lucky enough to be able to enjoy it often. Needless to say, I've seen a fortune of incredible sightings, but none quite compare to this. Even our ranger said that in 18 years this was a first for him.

10 Tips to an instantly slimmer you

 It happens all too often to all of us that our dream date, huge awards ceremony or bitchy cousin’s wedding sneaks up on us before we’ve had a chance to go on a diet/ hire a trainer/ run off to the fat farm for a few weeks. Cursing the universe is not going to help you lose a few in no time at all, but here are a few handy ways that you can at least fake it for your big night:

1) A browner you is a thinner you, so say hello to Self Tan! It instantly contours the body making you look not only slimmer but more toned too. It also won’t give you skin cancer, so that’s a plus. I recommend the St Tropez self tan range for home use, especially the moose because it’s idiot proof to apply.

2) If you are taking a group photo, try not to be the one on the end. You’ll immediately look like you’ve gained ten pounds.

3) Invest in a pair of skin coloured shoes. They will instantly make your legs look longer and thinner.

4) Take a bath in Epsom salts, it helps combat water retention, so you won’t be as bloated.

5) Every girl should own a good pair of Spanx – you know, those control top undergarments you would rather die than be seen in. Yes, those. Those wonderful, slimming, firming ‘you don’t have to worry about holding your stomach in all night’ Spanx! These are the real reason women use the line ‘Let me just go slip into something more comfortable’ once they’ve snagged that little piece of hotness.

6) Long necklaces and dangly earrings also create a slimmer look in a flash. The more vertical visual is what does the trick here.

7) Don’t wear clothes that are baggy, all that does is make you look even bigger and shapeless. DO NOT read this last statement as me giving the okay for lycra tightness everywhere. You know who you are! Well-fitted clothes will hide the bad parts and accentuate the good, making you look more svelte in a moment.

8) Denim is a divine creation that has made life so much easier and more comfortable. Better still, for an instant shape up, wear a darker shade of denim in a boot cut.

9) Just because you were a size four in High school, doesn’t mean you should still be trying to vacuum pack yourself into that size. The only effect this creates is the ‘muffin top’ that is about to explode. Rather wear clothes that fit, you’ll look a lot more like a size four this way. Remember, nobody is looking at the label inside your jeans.

10) Stand up straight! ‘Slouchy Joe’ is not winning any Fabulosity contests, think supermodel stance and you’re well on your way to looking like one. Good posture sheds pounds and adds confidence.

Now go and paint that town red you beautiful, sexy, slimmer looking version of your- already fabulous- self!

Colgate Total Launch

I popped over to the Saxon this morning for the Colgate launch where we were treated to lunch and a seminar on Oral hygiene around the world.


They also announced 2010's Brand ambassadors for Colgate which includes yours truly and my friends Leizel Van Der Westhuizen, Jennifer Su, Tazz Nginda, Ryan Botha (look out for him on my next Guy Candy of the Month) and Annie Malan who was brave enough to lend her mouth for a plaque demonstration, Truth!

QUITTING SMOKING SUCKS! HERE'S WHY I DID IT..

I hate being preachy – I am not the kind of person who thinks that I am any better the those around me, in fact I spend an unnatural amount of time quietly berating myself for all of my shortcomings big and small – but that’s another blog all together.

If you are not thinking of quitting at the moment, rather don’t read on, scroll down to some other blog I wrote and read that rather.

I quit smoking in December, 2008, on the 18^th to be exact, at about 7pm GMT. I will never forget these facts. It was in the OR Tambo International airport lounge – smoking section- waiting for my New York bound flight to board. I will never forget these facts, tears were shed (Gregg’s and mine). What I can tell you is I don’t know how long it has actually been, I no longer count the days or even think about having a smoke (unless I’m drunk, that’s harder, but I expect that will never go away and is, in truth, easier to cope with than you think)

Quitting smoking does suck though. And I still don’t feel any better.  I have attributed this to a fear I have that I was not inhaling properly for 10 years. Leave it to me to not even get my deadly addictions right!

Quitting really sucks, you’re in a bad mood permanently, you don’t want to be social, the only thought you have in your head is how much you feel like having just one and you put on weight. I put on 5kgs myself and these smoke free kilos are damn near impossible to lose.

Not sounding like much of a reason to give up yet is it. It’s because I don’t want to down play how hard it is and if you are trying you should be really proud of yourself! Really proud, hell I’m proud of you!

And there are great side effects too:

1)    You can buy more shoes. Smoking is expensive and instead of acquiring yellow teeth you can acquire some sexy heels (yellow heels if you’re so inclined)

2)    Hitting on boys that don’t smoke is more fun – yes, we’ve all been there – you want a cigarette but he doesn’t smoke and as he’s talking to you, you tune out of what he’s saying and into the ‘should you or shouldn’t you light up’ internal debate.

3)    Your skin DOES look better. I swear, I went from grey to glowing in a week!

4)  Nicotine stains become a thing of the past and you can get that Colgate smile back.

5)    Less wrinkles to worry about around your mouth cause you are no longer sucking on said ciggies all day long.

6)    Oh and the dying of cancer thing (NOT belittling this, but my shallow stupid brain did not use this really good reason as often as the wrinkle thing – Whatever gets you through!)

There are also a few things you can do to make this process a little less sucky, here are some of the ways that I got through:

1)    Quit with a friend. Yes there’s the whole moral support thing, but there's also the whole ‘ I will not cave before you’ competitive thing that really worked for me.

2)    Set a date and cut down before u quit

3)    Don’t use quitting aids – cold turkey baby! Forget the patches and the gum, they just feed the addiction and for crying out loud please do not use those electronic cigarettes. It’s tough enough to quit without looking like a total chop in the process!

4)    Quit when you are going away the change of scenery works wonders

5)    Don’t tell too many people. Or, alternatively, ask people not to ask you how it’s going – its too much pressure and pressure makes you want to smoke. It also means you won’t be reminded that you quit during that ONE moment in the long, painful, smoke-free day that you weren’t thinking about it.

Good luck, stay strong and remember, you’ll look younger, live longer and you won’t be smelly any more.

XO

Some of the comments after I posted yesterday!