Kristen Bell Talks Diet and Being a Vegetarian with SELF February 2012

Kristen Bell covers SELF magazine February 2012. The lovely 31-year-old 'House of Lies' actress dishes on her idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day, 'The Hunger Games', staying positive, but she also reveals her diet tricks and her favorite exercise move. Check out these highlights from Kristen's interview!

Kristen Bell covers SELF February 2012. The lovely 31-year-old 'House of Lies' actress dishes on her idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day, 'The Hunger Games', staying positive, but she also reveals to the magazine's readers her diet tricks and her favorite exercise move.
"Here's the one that packs the most punch. I call it The Bowler: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and bend slightly at the waist, holding a 5-pound weight in your right hand. Squat, then swing your right hand up and left, across your body, and sweep your right foot to the left behind you, as if you're bowling. Do about eight on each side. It's amazing for the butt cheeks," the actress explains.

On how she splurges, Kristen confesses that, "Salted chocolate drives me wild. I'm not a big spender, but I do like buying kitchen tools. I've ordered all the ways you can cut a strawberry and that ring to cook an egg in a heart shape."

On her favorite way to relax, the beautiful actress admits that cooking is her solution. "I love to cook. I have a tiny Italian grandmother inside me. If someone walks in, I'm like, 'Let me make you a sandwich!' We all have a giving-love language and a receiving-love language. I show love by cooking. When people have patience with me, I feel so loved. Dax is extremely patient with me," Kristen told the magazine.

In the interview with SELF Kristen also reveals her idea of an ideal Valentine’s Day. "My perfect Valentine’s Day would definitely be sleeping in and not having a plan. I think there’s something really romantic about not planning and waking up and just being spontaneous," the actress says.

On what she eats as a vegetarian, Kristen reveals that, "I've been a vegetarian since I was 11, because I couldn't understand why if we didn't eat the dog I should eat a burger. I love animals, and I stand by my values. So in the morning, I have an apple and, if we have leftover pizza, I scrape the toppings into egg whites. Pizza eggs are better than you can imagine! For lunch, I'll have a big salad and a veggie burger."
She then continues saying that, "I'm a fan of multicourse dinners. Last night, I made brussels sprouts baked with balsamic vinegar, grapes and walnuts; butternut squash ravioli; and a 'garbage disposal' salad, which is everything in the veggie and fruit drawers: lentils, spinach, romaine, blueberries, cucumbers, raspberries, almonds, carrots and avocado. Literally anything. You don't even need a dressing because there are so many tastes."

As for what she does to work out, the gorgeous actress says that, "I mostly go for hour-long hikes with friends, but sometimes, I'll do pilates or 20 minutes of calisthenics, like push-ups and sit-ups. I go through spurts. Working out for me has nothing to do with body image — I refuse to look in the mirror and hate myself. My goal isn't to change my body; it's to make my body happy."

Kristen admits in the interview with the magazine that she stays positive through therapy and talking to her friends. "I love my therapist. When I have an issue that I need to work through, going to therapy gives me a bigger toolbox to do so. Talking with friends helps, too. I can say crazy things to my friends, things I'm embarrassed to admit, like 'I feel so ugly or worthless today.' They say, 'What? You're nuts!' Having good, real friends builds your self-esteem exponentially," she says.

On her habits of which she is most and least proud of, Kristen confesses that, "I'm proud of my patience. I've worked really hard to curb my natural impatience by realizing that everyone is doing the best they can. I'm least proud of my ability to be lazy and procrastinate by spending time on my computer or in front of the TV, watching America's Funniest Home Videos, the greatest show on television. To anybody who pooh-poohs it, I say, 'Just give it 30 minutes.'"

On whether she or Dax is the better biker, Kristen says that, "There's no comparison! I can barely walk in a straight line, let alone move in one when I'm on a vehicle that has wheels. Dax grew up as a dirt biker. He's always doing tricks that terrify me. Even so, we ride to brunch or dinner or ice cream all the time."
Asked whether she is witty like her characters, Kristen admits that, "No way. I'm not funny at all. I'm intensely serious. I mean, I'd like to think I'm funny, but I really can't guarantee that anyone agrees."

Read Kristen's full interview in the February 2012 issue of SELF magazine.

Photos courtesy of SELF

View the original article here

Kristen Bell Talks Diet and Being a Vegetarian with SELF February 2012

Kristen Bell covers SELF magazine February 2012. The lovely 31-year-old 'House of Lies' actress dishes on her idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day, 'The Hunger Games', staying positive, but she also reveals her diet tricks and her favorite exercise move. Check out these highlights from Kristen's interview!

Kristen Bell covers SELF February 2012. The lovely 31-year-old 'House of Lies' actress dishes on her idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day, 'The Hunger Games', staying positive, but she also reveals to the magazine's readers her diet tricks and her favorite exercise move.
"Here's the one that packs the most punch. I call it The Bowler: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and bend slightly at the waist, holding a 5-pound weight in your right hand. Squat, then swing your right hand up and left, across your body, and sweep your right foot to the left behind you, as if you're bowling. Do about eight on each side. It's amazing for the butt cheeks," the actress explains.

On how she splurges, Kristen confesses that, "Salted chocolate drives me wild. I'm not a big spender, but I do like buying kitchen tools. I've ordered all the ways you can cut a strawberry and that ring to cook an egg in a heart shape."

On her favorite way to relax, the beautiful actress admits that cooking is her solution. "I love to cook. I have a tiny Italian grandmother inside me. If someone walks in, I'm like, 'Let me make you a sandwich!' We all have a giving-love language and a receiving-love language. I show love by cooking. When people have patience with me, I feel so loved. Dax is extremely patient with me," Kristen told the magazine.

In the interview with SELF Kristen also reveals her idea of an ideal Valentine’s Day. "My perfect Valentine’s Day would definitely be sleeping in and not having a plan. I think there’s something really romantic about not planning and waking up and just being spontaneous," the actress says.

On what she eats as a vegetarian, Kristen reveals that, "I've been a vegetarian since I was 11, because I couldn't understand why if we didn't eat the dog I should eat a burger. I love animals, and I stand by my values. So in the morning, I have an apple and, if we have leftover pizza, I scrape the toppings into egg whites. Pizza eggs are better than you can imagine! For lunch, I'll have a big salad and a veggie burger."
She then continues saying that, "I'm a fan of multicourse dinners. Last night, I made brussels sprouts baked with balsamic vinegar, grapes and walnuts; butternut squash ravioli; and a 'garbage disposal' salad, which is everything in the veggie and fruit drawers: lentils, spinach, romaine, blueberries, cucumbers, raspberries, almonds, carrots and avocado. Literally anything. You don't even need a dressing because there are so many tastes."

As for what she does to work out, the gorgeous actress says that, "I mostly go for hour-long hikes with friends, but sometimes, I'll do pilates or 20 minutes of calisthenics, like push-ups and sit-ups. I go through spurts. Working out for me has nothing to do with body image — I refuse to look in the mirror and hate myself. My goal isn't to change my body; it's to make my body happy."

Kristen admits in the interview with the magazine that she stays positive through therapy and talking to her friends. "I love my therapist. When I have an issue that I need to work through, going to therapy gives me a bigger toolbox to do so. Talking with friends helps, too. I can say crazy things to my friends, things I'm embarrassed to admit, like 'I feel so ugly or worthless today.' They say, 'What? You're nuts!' Having good, real friends builds your self-esteem exponentially," she says.

On her habits of which she is most and least proud of, Kristen confesses that, "I'm proud of my patience. I've worked really hard to curb my natural impatience by realizing that everyone is doing the best they can. I'm least proud of my ability to be lazy and procrastinate by spending time on my computer or in front of the TV, watching America's Funniest Home Videos, the greatest show on television. To anybody who pooh-poohs it, I say, 'Just give it 30 minutes.'"

On whether she or Dax is the better biker, Kristen says that, "There's no comparison! I can barely walk in a straight line, let alone move in one when I'm on a vehicle that has wheels. Dax grew up as a dirt biker. He's always doing tricks that terrify me. Even so, we ride to brunch or dinner or ice cream all the time."
Asked whether she is witty like her characters, Kristen admits that, "No way. I'm not funny at all. I'm intensely serious. I mean, I'd like to think I'm funny, but I really can't guarantee that anyone agrees."

Read Kristen's full interview in the February 2012 issue of SELF magazine.

Photos courtesy of SELF

View the original article here

'Glee' Star Lea Michele Talks Fitness Routine and Being Vegan with Shape Magazine

Lea Michele sits down for a chat with Shape and reveals some of her secrets on staying fit, her favorite workouts, and her tips on being a vegan. Check out what the actress had to share with the magazine!

'Glee' star Lea Michele sits down for a short interview with Shape magazine and shares some of her secrets on staying fit and reveals her tips on being a vegan. The 25-year-old actress admits she goes 'back and forth' between being a vegan and a vegetarian and that it is important to listen to your body.
"Well, I go back and forth between [being a vegan and not being a vegan]. I try lots of different things. I really feel that you need to kind of listen to your body and what your body is telling you to eat. So I was a vegan for about two years," she says.

Lea also gives some tips and tricks for readers who may want to become vegan.

"Well, everything with being vegan and vegetarian is a really big commitment. You have to do what you feel is best and what you believe in and what your body is telling you that it needs. I really think everyone should do what’s best for them, and what’s best for me may not be best for someone else. But like I said, you just have to do what makes you feel good," the actress told the magazine.

The young star, who lost about 10 pounds in 2009 due to the dance rehearsals for 'Glee', says that she is not that strict with her fitness routine.

"Working out for me is something I do when I feel like it. But it’s really about feeling good and taking care of my body rather than having to fit into any sort of model or anything like that. I try to eat well, and everything I do is really just to make me feel my best so that I can come to my job or my personal life and just feel really good."

When it comes to favorite workouts, Lea says that, "Oh gosh, no, I’m simple. I love hiking, going to the gym, doing some simple stuff. I love being outdoors, I love bike riding. Just stuff that’s fun!"

Recently, the actress and singer promoted a new project by Valspar Paint called 'Hands for Habitat,' where the handprints of various celebrities were being auctioned off to benefit Habitat for Humanity.
"It’s such an amazing cause! We have all these handprints, which you can find on the Valspar Facebook page. You can bid on them and all the donations and proceeds go to the Habitat for Humanity Disaster Response Program. It’s really such a great thing that so many people have donated their handprints and have gotten super creative, although mine are definitely the best and should be bid on the most (laughs)," Michele told Shape.

Photos: Getty Images

View the original article here

Bethenny Frankel Talks Diet and Being Honest with SELF May 2012

Bethenny Frankel covers SELF May 2012. In the interview with the magazine, the 41-year-old reality star dishes on diet and indulging, being honest and saying yes to your dreams, and she also shares some words of wisdom on how we can all get the work, love and shoes we deserve.

Bethenny Frankel graces SELF's May 2012 cover. Inside the magazine, in the accompanying interview, the 41-year-old Bravo reality star dishes on diet, indulging, being honest, and she also shares some "words of wisdom on how we can all get the work, love and shoes we deserve."

"I'm happiest when it's just us, like when I'm on the floor with Jason and the baby, making a tent with blankets. Right now, I'm looking for some peace. I'm not really sure what I'm doing anymore with reality TV. I experienced a miscarriage on TV. I didn't need that," she told SELF.
"Everything I do is to make a better life and future for Bryn," Frankel says of her 2-year-old.

Bethenny believes that loving your body is essential as self-confidence will always be attractive. "It's definitely not about being the skinniest woman in the room. That's not as sexy as looking like Sofia Vergara [at left], Christina Hendricks, Jennifer Hudson or anyone else who is rockin' her curves. People are attracted to confidence," she says.

Speaking about dieting, the reality star confesses that, "I used to starve, then binge, and I was 25 pounds heavier. I tried every diet from Beverly Hills to South Beach. Any diet that says to limit eating watermelon but processed protein bars are good means we've become stupid. Now I eat what I crave and make sure I'm having a balanced variety."

When it comes to exercising, Frankel says that the plank pose is really effective. "It's the best for getting flat abs. I do yoga two or three days a week for myself and for my state of mind. I'm not all caught up in my body anymore. How often am I strutting around naked? I exercise to get the kinks out, to feel healthy and to keep things not jiggly," she explains.

On realizing that there is no perfect, Bethenny Frankel admits that, "I'm confident because I know there is no 'right' way of doing things. So I stay in my own lane and do what I do. The more you see that your ideas work, the stronger you'll feel."

Frankel also suggests to send thank-you cards. "It's about networking. I've always been a connector and someone who hustles. I got on The Real Housewives by going to a polo match in the Hamptons, where I met the producers. I'd rather be shot than go to one now, but I cherish the RH experience," she told SELF magazine.

On fighting smarter, the reality star says that, "People say, 'Just communicate.' That's kind of BS. To have a strong relationship, you have to argue in a healthy way. Sometimes, you've got to back down. Don't escalate things, and don't bring up unrelated stuff."

Sharing her advice on how the smallest things can make a difference, Bethenny believes that it's always about staying true to yourself and don't fake it. "Power is not how bold you are or how much you say. It's about being true to yourself. Be the person you believe you are," she confesses.

Moreover, she says that saying yes to your dreams and don't accept defeat is also crucial. "People have said no to all my ideas along the way. No to my first book, which turned out to be a best seller. No to my Skinnygirl Cocktails. Never assume that anyone is smarter than you are. Trust your gut, and keep it simple," she told the magazine.

Read Bethenny Frankel's full interview in the May 2012 issue of SELF Magazine.

Photos courtesy of SELF

View the original article here