The way to a sexier you

MANILA, Philippines — The title of the new healthy lifestyle book, 21 Days To a Sexier You, by celebrity sisters Rachel and Barney Alejandro, may sound far-fetched or perhaps even not possible to most people.

Yet, the sisters attest that can be achieved. Both staunch advocates of healthy eating, Rachel and Barney emphasized that no one is hopeless. Anyone can get back to his/her best shape by harnessing a force much powerful than self-discipline — desire.

“Behavioral experts agree it takes about a minimum of 21 days to build a new habit, to make something a part of your system naturally,” offers Rachel, who’s first and foremost, an esteemed singer-actress. “You have to consciously do it every day.

“Based on our own experience, if you go on a diet, it’s only after 21 days or three weeks, that you will see physical, obvious results. You’ll see your face get smaller and your clothes get a lot looser.”

Meanwhile, Barney, who’s a chef, reasons out, “Especially with people who diet Monday to Friday, then stop Saturday and Sunday, they go back. The diet goes out the window. Everything that they lost, they just regain. So it’s like they only bounce back. You have to really give it some time, so you won’t get easily discouraged.”

Five years ago, Barney gave birth to a baby girl when she was 36 years old. “I was no longer a spring chicken when I gave birth,” she allows. “I gained almost 40 pounds. I was not used to seeing myself that big. It’s hard to lose weight, especially if you’re breast-feeding. It took me a year to get back into fighting form. We have to walk the talk and set a good example.”

As most everyone knows, Rachel and Barney notably started Manila’s top health food delivery service, The Sexy Chef, 14 years ago. In 2013, they ventured into establishing themselves in the publishing world by coming out with their first book, Sexy Chef, followed by Eat, Clean, Love in 2015.

In 21 Days To a Sexier You, Rachel and Barney share personal information about keeping fit and maintaining enviable bodies, as well as tips about what they learned from experts in fitness and weight loss science.

“Whatever diet plan you choose — not everyone can fit into the Ketogenic diet, vegan or calorie control — stick to something,” Rachel says. “With a dime-a-dozen diet delivery services today all over Metro Manila, ours in Sexy Chef is different from everybody’s. It’s so much more than just counting calories.”

“You have to listen to your body,” stresses Barney. “But if you have a medical condition, it’s best to consult a doctor or a nutritionist first before trying out any diet plan.” Sexy Chef has four in-house nutritionists, with whom customers can do phone consultation.

Rachel emphasizes all the food that Sexy Chef prepares does not use preservatives. Hence, even with cancer survivors, the diet works and can be definitely recommended.

“I wrote this in my introduction on the book,” Rachel shares. “I always believe in ‘The more you give, the more you get in return,’ I went to a restaurant in Seattle, Washington where the minute you ordered anything — I had clam chowder — you get the recipe to that food. We never lost anything because of sharing.”