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How Drew Barrymore dropped 10 kilos

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore has always had a curvy figure, but since turning 30 last February and adopting a healthy new diet and exercise regimen, she’s looking more lean, fit and radiant than ever before. Drew says she only noticed she’d gained 9.6 kilos last year when she struggled to fit into her trousers. “I was a lot heavier and didn’t notice the change — except when I found my old pants!”

The Charlie’s Angels star admits she was paranoid about her size, but shunned Hollywood’s faddy diets in favour of regular exercise and sensible eating. “I didn’t exercise before, but ever since I started, my body has really changed,” Drew says. “So it turns out those people who say exercise is good for you are right. I hate that!”

Now, instead of partying late and then lying in, Drew jogs in the mornings. “I picked up running as I needed an outlet,” she explains. “It has made my life better.”

The resilient star also enjoys going for long strolls and bike rides. She varies her routine with dancing, swimming and even crazy golf. “It doesn’t matter how you raise a sweat,” she says, “so long as you have fun doing it!”

The twice-married actress has to work at maintaining her svelte body — at 164cm, every kilo she puts on is noticed — but Drew is modest about her slim figure. “I’m like a corgi — I have very short legs. I know I’m not ugly, but I don’t think I’m pretty. I hate my arms, they’re like sacks,” she laments.

To look and feel her best, Drew combines regular exercise with a balanced diet. She drinks plenty of water and takes vitamin C tablets to keep her skin healthy.

“Two years ago, I was a full vegetarian, living on carbs,” she says. “Now I eat more protein. If I want that pasta, I’m gonna have it though! I don’t eat a ton of meat, but if my body needs some, then I’ll eat it. When I don’t feel good about myself, I’ll eat healthier or eat a little less.”

Drew has three meals a day, consisting mainly of organic fruit and veg, and she snacks on sugar-free jelly when she needs a sweet fix. “I want to eat what I want. I think, ‘I ran today, I can have the fettuccine Alfredo’. You heard me — cream and carb!” she laughs.

But the actress’s big secret is simple — be happy! “Psychology is like a layer of skin, it shows as much in your eyes, smile and physicality.”

We really like her attitude — and we’re loving the results!

Daily diet

Breakfast

Fresh organic fruit salad

Or

Brown toast spread thinly with peanut butter

Snacks

Sugar-free jelly

Lunch

Grilled chicken, jacket potato and salad

Or

Green vegetable salad

Drinks

Eight glasses of water a day

Dinner

Grilled turkey fillet with rice, tomato and mixed peppers

Or

A small serving of pasta with a light sauce

Drew’s exercise plan

Sessions per week

Five 45-minute workouts

Suggested exercise

  • 45 minutes outdoor running

  • 45 minutes fast walking

  • 45 minutes cycling

  • 45 minutes swimming or dancing

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Not eating properly: a very common complaint

Judy Davie

“I spend my days running around looking after the kids. At night I’m so tired, I don’t even sit down to a proper meal. I really need to lose some weight — can you help?”

This is a very common complaint. For many mums who spend their days looking after the family, it’s usually the unconscious eating that creates the problem.

Do you pick at food when preparing and clearing up meals for the family?

For example:

½ piece toast with peanut butter

¼ cup orange juice

5 chips

½ mini chicken drumstick

2 small jelly lollies

1 small (4cm) piece banana cake

1 small piece cheese

1 small piece roast pumpkin

1 small roast potato

1 tablespoon ice cream

= 1900kj

It’s so easy to unconsciously pick from plates but each time you do, the kilojoules add up, as the above list shows.

That spare piece of toast, the dregs of orange juice at breakfast, a corner of banana cake mid-morning, a few chips, the remaining chicken drumstick at lunch, a couple of lollies, a small piece of cheese, a couple of jelly lollies and on and on it goes until after dinner, when you’re clearing the plates.

It’s time to stack the dishwasher so it’s just as easy to pop the leftover roast potato and pumpkin into your mouth rather than throw it in the bin and lick the ice cream spoon rather than rinse it.

At the end of the day you’ve added 1900kj to your daily energy intake but “haven’t eaten a thing”!

Over a week this amounts to an unnecessary 13,300kj.

What people don’t realise either is the quick “no meal” cheese on toast with a well-deserved glass of wine, cup of tea and a biscuit is higher in energy and kilojoules than sitting down to a proper meal. You can whip it up in minutes but you’re also whipping up over 2000kj and next to no fibre.

A grilled steak with steamed broccoli, carrot and an apple will give you seven times more fibre and numerous nutrients for 900kj less.

One kilogram represents approximately 32,000kj of energy from food. If you are managing to maintain a steady weight but want to lose some, to lose a healthy average of 500g a week you have to create a deficit of 16000kj worth of food in the week.

Type of eating in kilojoules

Unconscious eating: 13,300

Quick evening meals: 6300

Total: 19,600

Over the week, you’ve added an extra 19,600kj — 3600kj more than you needed to lose weight. The bottom line is stop picking and make time to sit down to a good meal at the end of the day.

Diet advice for the day

If the garbage bin is stowed away under the sink, take it out ready to receive any leftovers immediately after the dinner plates are cleared. It will reduce the temptation to eat them off the plate.

For further information about food and nutrition, visit Judy Davie’s website at www.thefoodcoach.com.au

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The carb-addict’s diet

Courteney Cox
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The Greek Doctor’s Diet

Gwyneth Paltrow

Celebs are ditching Hollywood starvation diets and turning to a more satisfying way to lose weight — the Greek Doctor’s Diet.

Diet expert Dr Fedon Alexander Lindberg set up his first clinic to treat obesity, diabetes and heart disease six years ago in Norway. These days the Athens-born doctor has more than 12,000 clients throughout Europe on the Greek Doctor’ s Diet.

Celebs such as super-slim Gwyneth Paltrow are fans of the diet. “The food is so clean and good for you,” the actress says. Victoria Beckham also loves the seafood-rich, olive oil and lentil menu. “It was the secret behind her post-baby weight loss,” reports a friend of the singer.

Now you can learn the key to their slimming success, as Dr Lindberg has recently released his Mediterranean-style eating plan in The Greek Doctor’ s Diet (Pan Macmillan, RRP $25). The doctor’s best-selling book preaches the new diet buzzword, slow carbs — foods that release energy slowly. It also heralds the return of good fats, such as olive oil and nuts.

“The traditional Greek diet is very varied, with emphasis on good fats, good carbohydrate sources and taste,” Lindberg tells Woman’s Day. “It’s also greatly beneficial to health. It’s a diet that keeps blood sugar levels balanced and supplies a high level of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to the body.”

Dr Lindberg says his diet concept in the book is low GL — Glycaemic Load, which is a version of low GI (Glycaemic Index) and advocates slow-releasing energy foods, such as oats, almonds, plain yoghurt and beans.

“Of course, high GI foods increase blood sugar and that’s not a good thing,” says Lindberg. “But you can still combine high GI foods with low GI foods and get good results. An example would be porridge. Oats are a pretty high GI food, but they’re still healthy and if you combine them with nuts and a boiled egg with tomato and cucumber on the side, then you create a more balanced meal.”

A balanced diet and lifestyle have helped thousands of Dr Lindberg’s clients maintain their weight and control diabetes. “We’ve had some amazing results. People are managing to control their weight; we’ve managed to get clients off insulin in about 90 percent of cases.”

Dr Lindberg has noticed other unexpected benefits to his diet. “We have noticed a connection between food and inflammation. People come to us for obesity and blood sugar problems, but suddenly their asthma and migraines go away.”

It takes time to develop a healthy diet, according to Lindberg, and just being aware of what you eat is a good start. He’s keen to point out that the Greek Doctor’s Diet is not meant for short-term results. “It’s not a quick-fix thing. ‘Diet’ is a Greek word — it means way of life. That’s the original meaning and I’m trying to promote that.”

Eat Greek

  • Eat often: small, healthy snacks throughout the day can stop you reaching for the wrong foods.

  • Go for low GL: low GL foods can reduce rises and falls in blood-sugar levels that can make you feel run down and hungry.

  • Don’ t skimp on “good” fats: olive oil, nuts and fish can control overeating.

  • Never miss meals, especially breakfast, as this may lead to morning sweets cravings.

  • Eat a few tablespoons of unsweetened yoghurt before going out to dinner. The protein in it will reduce hunger and help prevent overeating.

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Pale skin

Question:

I have a very pale face with a few freckles and have trouble finding eyeshadow and lipstick colours that look good and don’t make me look sick or paler. Can you suggest colours that will look good and are in fashion?

Janelle

Answer:

You would probably look great with soft browns and apricot shades. Don’t try and cover your freckles, as this makes you look pasty. Choose coral tones for your blush, lipstick and gloss.

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Spina bifida

By Annette Campbell

Flute teacher Diana McIntosh is one of the proudest mums on the planet. Her 10-year-old daughter Tiffanie is doing very well in school, plays the flute and piano and seems to have been born with a permanently positive attitude.

“I am so proud of her — she’s wonderful and the most encouraging and uplifting child,” Diana beams. “She is very loving and accepting of everybody and everything.”

Tiffanie also happens to have spina bifida and, along with her mum, lives every day determined to overcome any obstacles created by this condition.

She is both bladder and bowel incontinent; her walk is a little bit wobbly; she’s a little slow to move and so takes a bit longer to do things. But Tiffanie’s in a mainstream school and doing really well, now only having check-ups with her specialist once a year.

Her life today is a far cry from the grim picture painted for Diana at the time of diagnosis.

“I started bleeding at eight weeks of the pregnancy and an ultrasound was done, but it didn’t find anything,” says Diana, who is from the Hawkesbury region of NSW.

“I had another ultrasound at 18 weeks which showed spina bifida and other complications. It was explained to me that one option was to terminate and that if I didn’t, she’d probably terminate herself or be severely mentally and physically handicapped and probably never walk.

“But I didn’t even consider termination — I always knew I’d have this baby. I’d also always had a feeling she’d walk … I suppose because I could feel her kicking inside me.

“After her birth, another doctor said that if she was going to walk, it probably wouldn’t be until she’s three … but she took those first steps on March 11, just before her second birthday!

“She now wears ankle and foot orthoses (splints) to stop her feet rolling in and she’s a little bit wobbly, but she can walk.”

Diana attributes her daughter’s achievements to her amazingly positive attitude.

“Tiffanie’s positive all the time. At school she does have some difficulties because she’s easily distracted and when she’s trying to grasp a new concept, needs more repetition. But she’s doing really well.”

September is Spina Bifida Awareness Month, an annual national campaign to raise the profile of spina bifida, a neural tube defect (NTD) that means split or divided spine. It results from the failure of the spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy, which often leads to a child being born with exposed nerves and damaged vertebrae.

In NSW the awareness campaign is coordinated by the Spina Bifida Group of NSW, auspiced by Northcott. Northcott provides support to people with disabilities and their families across NSW.

For information on the Spina Bifida Group of NSW, go to www.northcott.com.au

For information about spina bifida associations Australia-wide, contact the Australian Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association: www.asbha.org.au

Picture posed by model.

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About Neil Perry

Neil Perry is one of Australia’s leading and most influential chefs. He has managed several quality restaurants in Sydney and today concentrates on his flagship brand, Rockpool restaurant in Sydney, XO restaurant in Surry Hills and Rockpool Consulting.

Neil heads a team of six consultants to Qantas Airways. Menus are developed quarterly for International First and Business Class travellers, with the team overseeing the implementation and introduction to catering centres at key ports. The Rockpool Consulting team is integral to the food and wine training and communication for all premium flight attendants, and in addition work with Qantas to develop service delivery to reflect a more modern in-flight dining experience.

Neil is also author of three recipe books; Rockpool, Simply Asian and, most recently, the best-seller, The Food I Love; four classical/recipe CDs; creator of a range of Neil Perry Fresh food products in conjunction with Woolworth’s Supermarkets; and a television presenter on The LifeStyle Channel with whom he has produced several series around the region under the banners of Food Source, Fresh & Fast and the latest Rockpool Sessions.

In February 2004 Rockpool celebrated its 15th birthday. Over the years it has consistently been highly recommended by food critics throughout Australia and the world. Rockpool’s reputation is due to Neil’s passion for perfection which has enabled them to consistently train the very best staff, and also source the very best suppliers, who also strive for the utmost quality in the products they supply.

Neil’s career in hospitality began at Sails restaurant at McMahons Point and in Rose Bay. Neil then became head chef at Barrenjoey Restaurant, Palm Beach and was also given creative control over Perry’s in Paddington. In October 1986, he opened the Blue Water Grill at Bondi Beach and took the site from a 20-year failure to an overnight success. He then opened Rockpool in February 1989 with his business partner and cousin Trish Richards, with the intention of establishing one of Australia’s finest restaurants. After only six months it was voted Sydney’s best new restaurant in the Good Food Guide and over the years has gone on to win a long list of awards, both here and overseas.

Neil’s passion and the importance he places on quality produce is evident in all his dishes and the business projects he undertakes. Most recently, Rockpool won Australian Gourmet Traveller‘s Restaurant of the Year 2004 award and has again this year maintained it’s top 50 restaurants in the world ranking by UK magazine Restaurant.

Neil and his wife Samantha live in the Sydney suburb of Potts Point. They have a baby daughter Macy, and Neil also has a 10- year-old daughter Josephine. His determined passion for the city of Sydney, food and wine, quality, travel and his recipe books has driven him to where he is today.

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Neil Perry Q&A

**Q. What is your favourite food?

A.** I love noodles and pasta. Bad for the no-carb diet I know, but what can you do?

**Q. If you had 15 minutes to prepare, and five ingredients to whip up dinner, what would you make?

A.** Easy, a killer roast chook. Chook, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, freshly ground pepper and fresh lemon.

**Q. What is your pet hate in restaurants?

A.** Food not cooked to perfection, too much time spent fluffing and not concentrating on the process.

**Q. What is your worst cooking disaster?

A.** Cooking at a private home for 100 people, the oven blew up and we had to cook the roast duck on the bbq. That was after smoking the house out!

**When were you last genuinely surprised by a meal and why?

A.** Dinner at O Calcutta, Sydney. I love the restaurant and eat there often, but that night we were walking home from an early movie in Paddington and decided to grab a bite to eat. We walked past it on the way home, not expecting to be able to get in, and having no expectations of what we might eat that night. We sat down, Basil organised some dishes, and we had an absolute cracker.

**Q. What one cooking implement couldn’t you do without?

A.** A sharp cook’s knife.

**What dieting fad do you least agree with and why?

A.** No-carb diets. Eating all that protein can’t be good for you.

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Cat fights

Question:

My male tabby is constantly fighting with his sister (also a tabby). I got them at the same time and they’ve never had a problem until about six months ago when I moved house. They are both 18 months old. The vet has tried hormone injections but it made no difference. He also attacks people. I have the option to have him on tablets for the rest of his life or to take him to behaviour classes, which are expensive. Do you have any suggestions for chilling him out?

Sharona

Answer:

About six months ago both of your cats reached social maturity. Your little boy has decided that he is in charge of everything and the whole territory is his! Feline aggression towards other cats is sometimes hormonal (is he desexed?) but more often territorial or status-related. This is why hormones made no difference and can sometimes make things worse. Status-related aggression (like dominance aggression in dogs) means that he wants to be boss and she might not be submissive enough for his liking! I have two cats and a similar situation. Anxiety may also be playing a part here (fear-related aggression) as he is attacking people as well. The key is to make an accurate diagnosis of the specific cause first.

This sounds like serious aggression and you should consider putting him on anti-anxiety medication specifically for the aggression, for both their benefits (and any one else’s who gets in his way!) We use modern anti-depressant medication to change the chemistry in the brain responsible for this explosive behaviour (nothing to do with depression). They are not sedatives, have to be given every day and take about a fortnight to fully work. You may not need to use them for life but for at least three-to-six months. If this helps it gives time for the situation to change and him to learn more appropriate behaviours. I have my cat on these and it has helped a lot. There are also vaporisers, which give off pheromones that can help calm aggressive cats. Once you have managed the chemical imbalances, you can embark on trying to retrain him (in a behavioural sense). He will always be a feisty cat, most likely, but you can curb his behaviour and learn what sets it off and how to manage and avoid these conflicts. Another word of advice — don’t behave aggressively back to him to try and show him who’s boss. This is likely to make him much worse and can be very dangerous. Speak to a professional to devise a behaviour modification plan down the track.

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Everlasting gloss