Hey there!

You guys have to check out my girlfriend’s new blog: www.fitnessista.com! She lost 40 lbs six years ago and has been able to keep it off for good (she looks incredible!). She blogs every day about her personal workout and what she ate that day, she really provides realistic advice and motivation on eating healthy and on getting the most out of your work out! Personally, she has helped motivate me in my eating habits plus she’s given me great new work out routines! Let me know what you think, I know you’ll love her as much as you love me! xoxo

Betsy

Hey there!

I found this great article in the July Issue of Marie Claire (the one with the fabulous SJP on the cover) that gives a really great explanation on what we would like our models to wear at castings . I think it is extremely helpful and breaks down why we want our girls to dress the way they do. Check it out!

xo

Betsy

So celebrity make up artist Demitri James recently sent me a highlight, blush bronze and sculpt kit from his line “Skinn” and I absolutely love it!  It creates a very natural flush of color on the face instead of looking too “made up” or clownish.  It would be a perfect tool for models who are asked to come to a shoot “make up ready”. Get it at www.skinn.com!

He demonstrates how to use the compact below and some make up tips for users!  Enjoy!

Betsy

xo

                                                           Nutrition Thoughts from My Scattered Brain 

                                                          by BBB fitness correspondent Andy McDermott 

• I pretty much look at all things that I may intake and try to assess if it has something in it that my body can use.  Obviously, our bodies need fuel to operate, and the higher quality fuel we burn, the better the performance and appearance of our bodies.
• I do not advocate, however, having zero fun in your diet!  Unless you are getting ready for a bodybuilding competition or a photo shoot, our bodies need a lot of nutrients and can handle some bad stuff thrown in there occasionally as long as we are doing at least a little bit of exercise almost everyday.  Life is too short to never get to enjoy delicious foods and drinks! 
• I look at it as kind of 80/20.  80% of what I put in my body is good, clean fuel.  Then of course, 20% is the sweets, dessert, beer/wine (in moderation or not at all of course!), pizza, or Philly cheesesteak sandwiches!  These are the fun foods of which our bodies can only use a fraction for fuel or none at all.  They are kind of a waste of time for our bodies, and, if we are not heating up the furnace and burning a lot of calories regularly, our bodies will turn those sugars, empty carbs, fats, and alcohol into body fat!
• For me, a simpler way to look at the 80/20 is to have one cheat day a week.  That does not mean on Saturday I’m going to eat at burger king 4 times and drink a case of Budweiser!  But it does allow me to eat pizza and some dark chocolate, or have a couple beers or other “not good fuel but delicious” intake items.  This plan works well because the cheat day can be adjusted according to which day you are going out to dinner or a night on the town or the night you just want to eat a large dark chocolate ice cream with kit-kat mixed in from Cold Stone!
• The cheat day keeps you sane!  Don’t try to eat strictly pure and clean for the rest of your life: you will want to jump off a bridge!  I find if I have something important I am looking forward to and want to look and feel my best, I can do this for a set amount of time, even if it sucks…  Once that event is finished though- I want to eat everything I see!

• OK, SO LET’S FIRST TALK ABOUT WHAT NOT TO INTAKE:  
• No WHITE FOODS!!  White pastas, breads, sugars, creams, sauces, chips: all have been overly processed.  These are the quintessential “waste of time foods!”  Sure they taste good, but your body cannot use them as well as other options (which we will get to) or not at all, and will turn them into body fat.
• Never drink another sugar drink again!  STOP IT!  There is SO much empty sugar in regular soda, certain juices, smoothies, coffee drinks, and energy drinks!!!!  You’re drinking more sugar than you would eat in an entire day. 
• If you must drink soda or energy drinks, ALWAYS choose diet. 
• Stay away from fast food.  Unless it is an extremely special treat, or it’s the only food option for 50 miles, there is absolutely no reason to go to any fast food burger or taco joint.  Even the healthy stuff is not totally healthy stuff!
• Can you eliminate salad dressing?  If not, try more clear stuff, like olive oils or balsamics, and not the creamy stuff.
• There is hidden sugar in a lot of stuff we don’t even think about.  Ketchup and BBQ sauce, for example, have more sugar than we think.  So, a good thing can turn into a bad thing if you eat a lot of it.  One or two pieces of FRUIT a day is healthy for you—more than that and it is just excess sugar that your body can’t use!

ALRIGHT, I THINK IT IS PRETTY EASY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT NOT TO EAT, AND IT’S KIND OF DEPRESSING TALKING ABOUT IT, SO LET’S THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME GOOD FOODS TO INTAKE!: 

• Good protein.  As far as supplementation goes- getting some good protein into your body immediately after a workout is essential if you are doing any resistance training.  Basically you are tearing down your muscles while training, and then you are asking those muscles to build back up stronger/bigger/leaner.  Amino acids and proteins are the fuels for those muscles, so they are only able to develop with that fuel.  A good, clean protein shake after a workout is a staple.  If you are really trying to change your body, a second and maybe a third shake in a day is pretty important as well.  If trying to add muscle, I go more than a gram per pound of body weight per day.
• Lean meats.  Steak, chicken. Turkey is a lean sub: turkey bacon, ground turkey, etc.  Fish, especially salmon.  If vegetarian/vegan: you have to find another source: eggs, soy, protein shakes—it’s crucial!
• Greens!  Spinach, broccoli.  Green beans, edamame.  Raw is best, but steamed or prepared in olive oil is great too, and tastes better!
• Whole grains for your carbs.  Unless you are really stripping your body down for something special, carbs are crucial for your body to run correctly.  You cannot exercise hard and get no carbs. 
• Whole grain pasta, bread, snacks, etc!
• My wife makes awesome dishes using whole grains and ground turkey or turkey sausage: lasagna, pizza, turkey burgers, chicken pot pie, etc!
• We try to eat as organic as possible.  These healthy grocery stores are fantastic.  People believe they are more expensive, but we disagree for this reason: if you buy good, healthy, clean food, you eat it and your body loves it and uses every bit of it as fuel.  If you buy and consume what the average American gets at a grocery store, you eat a lot of stuff that is “waste of time food,” that may be cheaper for that moment, but you have to eat more of it to be satisfied because the nutrients aren’t there- your body isn’t getting the fuel it needs even though you are probably overeating.  This is one of the reasons people are more obese than ever, because the quality of our food has gone down, so people’s bodies tell them they are hungry again shortly after eating a meal—and we just eat and eat and eat!
• WATER!!!   Try drinking two full glasses of water with each meal.  Not only will you be hydrating, but your stomach will not feel as empty and make you overeat.  If you are “starving,” chug a glass of water before eating- for the same reason.  And if at all possible—and I personally know this is a hard one—try to substitute a water for a soda/energy drink/coffee drink.
• Another good trick I have learned is to brush my teeth or chew some gum immediately after a meal.  It helps me to somewhat eliminate my sweet tooth.  I think my body has been conditioned over the years to expect dessert—to expect something sweet after salty or tasty food.  This helps counteract it.
• Good fats: olive oil, almonds, natural peanut butter…
• SUPPLEMENTS:  there are SO many out there!  Too much info to be discussed here.  I use a LOT, but most importantly, get a good multi-vitamin, and plenty of protein to support your muscle development.  Even you LADIES!  It’s a misconception among women that the fastest way to change your body is to have killer workouts and starve yourself.  Wrong—you must eat to change!  Good protein, clean fuel, and lots of water will help you burn the fat you have and build lean muscle faster.

  SUMMARY:  It’s no secret– exercise hard and intake clean fuel and your body will get into the best shape of your life.  The best part is you will develop these habits as your lifestyle, not as a “diet.”  Having a healthy body will just feel natural to you!     This is one of the best guide’s I’ve read on eating for a healthy “lifestyle” rather than a fad diet!  If you have any more questions for Andy you can email them to Betsy@betsysbeautyblog.com. xo

Betsy

Dear Betsy,

 Just thought I would let you know that I used some eye cream last night from some samples I obtained.  I must say, I could see and feel a difference in the area around my eyes.  I’m going to use it for the next couple nights, and then I might invest.  Good call!

—Chris

I’m so glad!

A good brand to try is Kiehls  (my favorite because of their all organic ingredients) try their eye 
alert for revival after a long night …or for extreme anit-aging benefits I like their “Line-Reducing-Eye-Brightening Concentrate”, it  contains vitamin-C , which works wonders in keeping skin from developing fine lines and wrinkles . If you are on a budget, at least use something, it could be Oil of Olay or Clinic !

Yay Chris I’m proud of you!

 xo

Betsy

Dear Beauty Betsy,

First i must thank you for all the wonderful words of wisdom that you share with us each week.. Your insight into the world of beauty and fashion is not only a gift, but more so a guiding light that will show me the way to become a star one day…  Anyway, the reason i write is because most of your blogs are directed towards women.. Myself, being a young, affluent, attractive, and charming young man, i fear that my excessive exposure tothe sun may have a detrimental effect on my youthful good looks in thefuture. What products do you recommend for me, so i can ensure that i keep my youthful glow for many years to come?? Get back to me when you find the time. Your biggest beauty blog fan, Barrett

Well Charming Barrett,

I’m glad you are so fond of my insight; it truly takes a special man toappreciate the world of beauty and fashion. I promise I  will do my bestfrom now on to include skin care and fashion advice for men. As a young,affluent, attractive, and charming young man, I think that you already havean advantage; positive and happy people age much better than miserablepeople.  However, it wouldn’t hurt to start wearing an eye cream every night.
The skin around your eyes is the most delicate and the first place one starts to see premature aging, I would recommend Kiehl’s “Abyssine EyeCream”.  I really like this line because they use all natural-organicingredients.  The Abyssine Eye cream helps minimize the appearance of fineline and wrinkles, it also protects against free radicals.  Because you spend a lot of your time in the sun, you have already predisposed yourselfto skin damage.  Anti-aging eye creams and a facial moisturizer with EsterC- and Alpha Lipoic Acid can help reverse and prevent further damage, but you really need to make sure you wear sun screen every day, and re-apply!  Another great unisex product I love is Jason’s Apricot Scrub, it triplesas a scrub, mask and skin polisher.  It helps to prevent razor burn onyour face as well!I hope this helps Barrett, feel free to ask questions if any of this is confusing to you…I know the world of skin care is pretty foreign to most men! Good Luck!
Betsy 

I felt like today was a great day to post a couple tears I took from People Magazine featuring Victoria’s Secret Models dishing on their curves…

The whole industry can be a little draining with the expectations on body image that are constantly enforced, so lets take a break from it all and embrace our curves today!!

xoxo Betsy

Hey guys!

As most of you probably know if you’ve seen my broadcast on Justin.tv…I have a thing for ester-c. I think the stuff is amazing! I take it in supplement form every day to protect my immune system ( I take 2 if I’m feeling sick), and I apply it to my face every day and night in cream form. Another amazing supplement is Alpha Lipoic Acid! Both these ingredients should be in your face cream. I am currently obsessed with Healing Anthropology’s Rejuvenating Face Cream, I use it every day! It smells delicious (think oranges), makes your skin GLOW (I’m serious), and is so pure it could be food. Its a good idea to keep it in your fridge so it doesn’t get bad. A less expensive version of this cream is Jason’s Ester- C Cream. You can get it at Walgreen’s I believe, or try finding it online. Another option would be to pick up a generic cream at your local Health Food Store ( Whole Foods, Sunflower Market etc. ) with Ester C, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Vitamin E in the ingredients…find one with DMAE for added wrinkle protection!

Along with using your restorative cream EVERY NIGHT, everyone should wear EYE CREAM every night and morning! Your eyes have the thinnest layer of skin on your face and are the most prone to wrinkles; therefore, to protect them from prematurely aging, god created eye cream! I use Trilogy Eye Contour cream and I love it! It is important to get a cream that is specifically made for eyes, or you will find that your pores around your eyes will start looking bigger and white.

Another power potion….TEA TREE OIL!! Dab some on break out spots 4 times a day and your blemish will diminish FAST!

If you have Acne Prone Skin, I would consult your dermatologist. Here at the agency, we always recommend the Proactive System to clear acne fast (think 1 month). Another more expensive option would be to get blue light laser treatments, it usually takes anywhere from 2-6 laser treatments to completely clear acne fast, but once it is clear it should last for 6 months!

So there you have it, Betsy’s Skin Care Routine! Remember that what you put into your body also reflects how your skin will look…if you eat cleanly your skin will reflect that.

Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen boys and girls!

Betsy

xo

1. HEIGHT!!!! I don’t care if you have a great face…if you are 5’3″ please do not waste anybody’s time. The general industry requirements for height are 5’8″ -5’11″ for women, and 6’0″-6’2″ for men.  Yes it is possible to be TOO TALL. In smaller markets, sometimes you will find guys who are 6’3″, but if you go to any big markets i.e. NY, MILAN, LA….they will not waste their time with you. Also, if you are a small fry..i.e. 5’10″ and below…you are not going to work and therefore will not get signed.

2.  TANNING! Don’t even think about submitting yourself or showing up for an open call with a “healthy” orange glow.  Looking like you live in a tanning bed is not hot….do you ever see any orange campaign girls?? NO! So please save your skin and our time and do not waste money on tanning beds/ spray tanning etc…especially if you have bleach blonde hair…now that’s another topic!

 3. BLEACH BLONDES! The sorority look of bleach blonde hair, tan skin and tons of make up is fine if you are in a sorority and thats the thing to do…but do not expect to have a modeling career if this is what you look like.  It is fine if you highlight your hair every so often if it looks natual and matches your SKIN TONE…however…please do not show up to an open call if you have: thick streaks, two-tone hair, fried bleach blonde hair that is obviously bleached etc… The special thing about models, is that they pull themselves off as being gorgeous NATURALLY…(Men do not even think about bleaching your hair either)

4. MAKE-UP!! Please keep it to a minimal, do not cover your natural beauty up with a pound of make up.  I have asked girls to wash their faces at open call before…I’m serious, if possible please come with no makeup…its best for everyone, trust me.

 5. DON’T BE ANNOYING! If an open call is being held at an office where people are trying to work, please do not try to talk to them, make yourself “more noticable” by being abnoxious, or try to talk with other people (parents please shut up) while the open call is being conducted.  Just quietly wait your turn, if the person conducting the open call asks you questions or instigates a conversaten, then it is ok to talk. Otherwise, we will think you are less annoying and more compatible to work with if you are polite and do not disrupt those trying to work.

 Please don’t let these tips discourage you or lower your self confidence, not everyone can be a model, they are freaks of nature, that is why this is a business. 

 However, I’m sure you all are beautiful inside and out….