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By · CommentsMy Experience – The Fruit Diet
By · CommentsI’ve had a look around and I feel I really should up my blog game! So from now, longer articles, for the more nosey of you!
Wow, I’ve just come to the end of a week long fruit and vegetable only diet – was indeed a test of my self discipline!
This however did do me a world of good I feel, and if like me you don’t want to be fussed about rules, buying loads of weird and expensive supplements, and really having to think about what you eat every day – this is the best suited diet ever! It’s not for weight loss, more for detoxification – I struggle a lot with my skin especially when I travel, but this seemed to clear it right up!
I’ve written the basic rules I went by below, plus added in a couple others from nutritionists I ‘interviewed’ whilst trying the diet out ..I wish I didn’t get bored of fruit so easily.
Step 1: I didn’t prepare like this, but apparently the best way to begin is by ‘flushing out your system’ with a herbal laxative tea (I suppose tablets would work too, but I’d advise you be very careful with the strength of them!) before the diet. You should drink your herbal tea just before bedtime.
Step 2: Now you’re cleansed, you can eat as many ripe, fresh fruits as possible! On my first day I literally ate about 100 pieces of fruit – so I hope nutritionist Willow Sidhe was correct here! She advises that grapefruit, oranges and lemon are the best cleansing fruits, but I don’t like citrus tastes, so I went for mostly grapes, apples, a couple of bananas and kiwis – you can add any other types of fresh fruit into the diet.
Step 3: You knew it was coming – drink plenty of water! I read that 8 to 10 glasses of water a day is the standard amount for a cleansing diet, and this should be distilled or spring water – bit tricky when you’re on the run to find this sometimes, so occasionally I subsituted for tap water. Seemed to work!
Step 4: And the other common one – lots and lots of fresh fruit juice. You might think that’s obvious, but after researching I found I’d made a mistake here – no concentrated fruit juices! Peggy J. Noonan points out the added stuff in concentrated juice. Squash doesn’t count either, needless to say – but in the case of no fresh juice, rather than go for a concentrate like I did, you are advised to opt for water.
Step 5: Work into your day at least 30 minutes of excercise – I don’t think I could handle a marathon or even a 30 minute run a day on this fruit diet – it did lower my energy levels a bit, but I was told that even walking is perfectly fine – and whatever excercise you do, it should be out in the fresh air.
So there you go, the rules are pretty simple. Two changes were definitely noticeable for me – first, my skin cleared, and second, I began to cherish a simple slice of toast.
Oh – for you people thinking I’m one of those diet coke and celery stick eaters, the diet should last no more than 4-5 days ..Which is a relief for the lovers of cake and carbs like myself – give it a go!
Inspired!
By · CommentsHave had some brilliant edited pics back at the end of the week, look amazing, thankyou! Also been busy working on the studio’s website – it’s gonna be great when it’s done! For now you can see a basic photo gallery at www.ameliealden.com/almastudio
A bit nervous
By · CommentsI just came back from an interview and it seems I’m soon to get my shot at TV presenting. I’ll be hosting a little chatshow once a week, nothing major but should be fun, and a great new experience. I’ll keep you updated – wish me luck!
I should add – this is the doll ‘Amelie’ in the cardboard tv, made by Sabrina Eres – a great photographer. Love this image.
Beauty prepping..
By · CommentsI’m getting ready for some beauty and health based photoshoots, and some go-sees for new exhibition and promotion assignments, and I’ve stocked up on supplies.
I thought I’d post about this, because part of my preparation was to go through my image portfolio and sort the keepers and chuckers for showing these new people. I’ve always in the past taken a quick snapshot of myself before I go to a casting for a job. You’d think I’d seen enough of my own photographs by now, right?
..The little snaps were just for reference actually, so I could look back at what might have contributed to my being unsuccessful or succesful in getting the job.
And I’ve pretty much figured the pattern. Don’t get me wrong, personality counts just as much if not more with promotional jobs, but I’ve rounded up a few pointers I should remind myself of before getting ready for one of these go-sees again.
Top tips from first hand experience, people!
1. The more natural, the better. You’ll be face to face, close up with whoever you’re promoting to, or modelling for. They want to see you, not your favourite foundation!
To prepare:
1. Drink lots of water for as long as you can before the day – I find this hard to remember, but just take a bottle with you wherever you go. Good for avoiding headaches and tiredness while you travel around too.
2. I hear that sleeping on your back prevents wrinkles and breakouts on your face, and even wrinkles in your cleavage area – if this works, a good tip for people like me who struggle with their complexion at times (I’m not YET suffering from wrinkles!) and try to get your eight hours sleep, at least for a couple of days before your go-see.
3. If you’re deciding to diet or detox before your go-see (I personally don’t, because I want 100% energy and radiance at times like that) make sure you excercise too, or skin will start to seem a bit saggy if you are losing weight.
And on the day:
1. Wear less make-up – it makes you look younger and more fresh faced. In some of my snapshots, I noticed that while pretty eyemakeup, and a dose of blush/eyebrow pencil, will make you look a bit more glam, your face will look more tired, and almost as if you feel you have to hide your natural self.
2. Don’t do tight clothes – whether youre a size 4 or 40, wear something skimming but not skintight – it’ll make any ‘flaws’ in your figure stand out a mile, and often looks too tryhard. Remember, this is all self-criticism too!
3. Bear your choice of underwear in mind – I find my bra straps loosen over time, so wear a new one – nothing too showoff or ‘decorative’, just something with a good shape and standard support.
I’ve researched a few cleansing diets too – so watch this space for an independent review, with yours truly acting as human guineapig!
Would love a shot like this…
By · Comments..I have just acquired a pair of these beautiful 10inch boots! A little tricky to manouevre in, but just finished my first shoot in these on an old industrial looking stairwell, and they give some awesome poses. They’re really inspiring in terms of ideas – would be good to hear from anyone interested, or if you have a pair yourself, some walking lessons. What an amazing shot! Found on yahoo images.
Smoke rings
By · CommentsHere is a quick preview of one of the results of a recent shoot – by the end, I’d learned the essence of grunge fashion, how exposure settings capture smoke on a camera, and.. how to blow smoke rings.
I’ve worked on quite a few more neutral fashion projects recently so this was really refreshing and also a test of varied looks for me.
Photography here by Sendu Bala
Credits?
By · CommentsI’m halfway through making my credits/links page – don’t really want to add when I know I’m missing people out, so if you recognise the photography on my site, please drop me a mail to let me know who I should be thanking.
Also thinking of adding a useful links page – anyone interested in a link exchange, I’ll welcome mail from you too.
Thanks!
Thanks for coming!
By · Comments..And welcome to my (now) fully functional website and blog, complete with galleries – took a while, but it’s finally here! Keep checking back to my page to see what I’ve been upto and where I’m going next.
If I’’ve missed anything you think should be here, or you find any broken links, please let me know