FITNESS DIVAS: Getting Ripped with Robert Brace ΓÇô Diet Warrior!

By Delaina Dixon | April 10, 2013 | Entertainment, Fitness

TV DivaGal is on a mission ΓÇô to get a ripped body in 28 days with the help of celebrity trainer Robert Brace and his 28-Day Fast and Fierce Challenge DVD series.

I’ve been on my program for just over a week. The workouts are challenging, and I’m fitting in extra cardio whenever I can. I pulled on a pair of snug jeans late last week, and they fit! So yep, it’s working.

Robert has a suggested diet plan to follow while on the program. It consists of three meals and two snacks, mainly consisting of lean protein – think chicken, turkey and fish, and fruits and vegetables ΓÇô lots of spinach, asparagus and berries. When I asked Robert where does wine fit in, his answer was, “It doesn’t.” Oh, damn.

But I am determined, so I’m taking Robert’s advice to heart. I’ve cut back on the drinking (not the easiest thing when a DivaGal is invited out nightly), and reduced my intake of starchy carbs to zero-one serving daily, mostly oatmeal and sweet potatoes.

Living on fish and veggies can get tedious, so I’ve been getting inventive in the kitchen.┬á Our pals at the Hass Avocado Board shared a tasty topper recipe, and it only has 118 calories! Check it out below.

Three Diva-licious tips to keep you on your diet:

1. Plan Your Meals. Grabbing something just won’t work. I plan out meals on Sunday night and fill my Tupperware bowls. It makes it so much easier to stay on track when you actually have food you can eat on hand.

2. Get Flavorful. Having spices and citrus on hand can really take your meals from plain to pizzazz. Jazz up your chicken or fish with Salt Sisters seasonings, like their Tuscan Farmhouse blend of herbs and seas salt or Dragon’s Breath Rub, while you’re cooking. Saute your greens (try kale, collards and swiss chard) in balsamic vinegar, and then spritz with lemon or lime before you eat. Delish!

3. Go Cold Turkey. Cutting out the alcohol wasn’t easy, but once you’ve stopped imbibing for a few days, your body actually makes the shift to not needing it. I had one glass of red wine last week (sorry, Robert!), and actually felt it for days. And yes, having turkey meat on hand for snacking is a good thing!

Here’s to week two ΓÇô and keeping the diet in check!

Avocado and Mango Topper
2 ripe Hass Avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
1 cup seeded, diced tomato
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp. chopped red onion
1 Tbsp. minced jalape├▒o pepper
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Instructions:
In a medium bowl, combine mango, tomato, cilantro, onion, jalape├▒o, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Add avocado and toss gently.