Harley Pasternak’s Recipes for a Celebrity Body

1. The Steps To Success

3 Surefire Success Strategies

Don’t get stuck in a rut: “Whether you’re eating all juice, all cereal, or all red meat, eventually your palate will rebel against the monotony … The more restrictive the diet, it seems, the more likely the weight loss is temporary.”

It’s not just the calories: “Diets that focus exclusively on calories and not what those calories are made of are completely misguided. I cannot emphasize this point enough: Not all calories are created equal. Fourteen hundred calories of white bread is not the equivalent to fourteen hundred calories of salmon.”

Avoid overexercising: “I believe it’s because our over-the-top workout habits end up supercharging our appetites, ultimately causing us to consume even more calories than we would have if we’d stayed home and skipped the gym.”

All recipes have been reprinted from “The Body Reset Diet” by Harley Pasternak. Copyright (c) 2013 by Harley Pasternak. By permission of Rodale Books. Available wherever books are sold.

Pina Colada Power

The words “piña colada” usually send those trying to lose weight running in the other direction. It’s usually high is calories (and alcohol) and not great for any diet, but this version uses fat-releasing coconut milk as its base, so it’s healthy and delicious.

Harley’s success strategy: “A meal is not a meal and a snack is not a snack unless there is protein and fiber involved, so every time you sit down to eat make sure you include both.” 

How to make it:
• 1 orange, peeled
• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• 1 scoop whey protein powder
• 1 banana
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
1. In a blender or food processor, combine orange, coconut milk, protein powder, banana, and pineapple.
2. Blend until of desired consistency.

• (Photo: Thinkstock)

Berry Delicious

If blueberries are off-season, you can use frozen berries instead as they have just as much, or more, nutrients as fresh. Adding raspberries, orange, and flaxseeds to the mixture make this shake filling and rich in fibre.

Harley’s success strategy: “Often we don’t eat because we’re hungry. We eat because we’re stressed or bored or unhappy. If you’re spending [time] gardening in the backyard or playing tennis with an old friend, then by default you won’t be snacking mindlessly so often.” 

How to make it:
• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 orange, peeled
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds (or whole flaxseeds, depending on your blender)
1. In a blender or food processor, combine the raspberries, blueberries, orange, protein powder, and flaxseeds.
2. Blend until of desired consistency. 

(Photo: Thinkstock)

Green With Envy

If you can’t stand to eat another salad, try this combo of spinach, pears, grapes, and avocado in a smoothie and jam-pack your day with good-for-you greens.

Harley’s success strategy:
“Making fibre the centrepiece of your diet is one of the best ways to control your appetite and get more out of every calorie… When you start drinking my smoothies you will not feel hungry after you’ve had one-not five minutes later, and not two hours later, either.”

How to make it:
• 2 cups spinach leaves, packed
• 1 ripe pear, unpeeled, cored and chopped
• 15 green or red grapes
•  3/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons chopped avocado
• 1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1. In a blender or food processor, combine the spinach, pear, grapes, yogurt, avocado, and lime juice.
2. Blend until of desired consistency.

(Photo: Thinkstock)