4th of July Weekend - Skinnygirl Tips

Hi guys! Thanks so much for all of your support. The book is flying off the shelves and I've just finished writing my second book: The Skinnygirl Dish, on shelves in January 2010. I'm going to reach out to you once a month to give you some skinnygirl tips to get you through whatever comes your way.

This weekend its Fourth of July, so don't get it into your head that you're going to be bad and fix it next week. There is no bad nor good and food isn't your best friend nor your enemy. So here goes:

As for cocktails, try to limit yourself to 2 (or because its a holiday to 3) but at those meals, limit your carbs, bread and sweets. You know what that means. Your diet is a bank account and you are investing in booze, so get rid of the hot dog or hamburger bun, fill up on high fiber salads and try to avoid the ice cream cake. If you must indulge in any of this, have a few bites and taste everything. Eat nothing.

As for your drinks, have a skinnygirl margarita or skinnify whatever cocktail you want. If its a rum punch, have clear rum (always clear liquor) club soda (the best low cal filler) and a splash of the punch or fattening component with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Use this equation with all drinks. Clear liquor, soda, a splash of the sugary component and a squeeze of citrus.

As of August 1, you can buy my bottled margarita in any liquor store, or now order at www.skinnygirlcocktails.com.

As for the food this weekend, have the turkey burger, fill up on high-fiber salads first, so you eat less of the fattening stuff. Don't skip meals and save for the big event. Spoil your appetite before parties with a good investment 200 calorie snack such as nut butter or hummus on whole grain bread, edamame or a few slices of turkey with cheese. Have a plan! Taste everything. Eat nothing if faced with a variety of indulgent foods, try to drink water and please think of your diet as a bank account.

Don't wear baggy clothes. Strut your bikini and you'll be more likely to reel it in at the buffet. You've got this. You have learned to be naturally thin, and no red, white and blue holiday can change that.