When it comes to vices, is smoking a little ok?

I’ve established that I’m not a Gwyneth hater; I know some of you are and you’ll have more ammunition as this post continues. I like G’s recipes, I like Goop and I didn’t think I had that much more to say about Ms. Paltrow but I was wrong.Yesterday, The Today Show asked Carolyn for her professional opinion on an article Gwyneth wrote for the Telegraph. In this article Gwyneth admits to 1 cigarette a week.

I often have a glass of red wine in the evening and smoke a cigarette on a Saturday. I love those moments because they are just the right amount of naughty. That balance keeps you vibrant. You have to live your life, after all.

Whether it chocolate or French fries or margaritas or pizza treats happen for all of us.. Ideally, for my clients, these treats are planned and contained. Gwyneth isn’t advocating chain smoking or binge drinking but she did just put out a book that included a detox regime? Can you advocate making everything from scratch, juicing and ditching gluten while having an occasional cigarette? Can the same person who pushes detox also endorse “tox”? You lost me at cigarettes and vibrancy.

What bothers me most is that Gwyneth wasn’t embarrassed about her smoking but made a case for it. I used to be silly or more than silly about the sun and some clients were surprised to hear that. Others were pleased that I admitted it, have since changed my habits, and suggested ways to stay safe from sun and the cancer it can give us. Now what if I had said "I think baking in the sun once a week is fine go for it." Gwyneth pulled the old “I don’t like to deny myself anything” and “it’s the right about of naughty”. Is this someone who lost her father to cancer? One sweet a week is one thing, a drink here or there (can actually be healthy) but smoking as part of a balanced life? Nope, call me a party pooper but it’s not naughty it’s nasty.

I don’t believe in promoting the unhealthy while encouraging others to be healthy. I didn’t like it with Michelle Obama and I don’t here with Gwyneth either. And relax, it’s not about being perfect it’s about being consistent. We don't have to go out of our way to publicly do or endorse unhealthy things to appear "normal", not too rigid or sadly maybe cool.

I will have you know some admired the smoky Gwyneth, I read an article that found the smoking “endearing”.  And see I found using food to make herself and her family healthy far more endearing. It makes me wonder if Gwyneth’s regime, for her, is really about health or just about as she said having “a 20 year old stripper’s butt”.

Do you think smoking a little each week is the same things as drinking or eating treat food or, is it worse? Would you buy Gwyneth’s clean eating books if, in the intro let’s say, she mentioned her naughty cigarette? Are there some things we should deny ourselves of?

 Join me in Sun Valley Septemer 19^th-22^nd for the Harvest Festival

I’ll be speaking on a great panel on food trends but it’ll be a weekend full of food, tastings and talks in a beautiful location.

The official blurb:

The weekend offers attendees an opportunity to learn culinary secrets from the country’s top chefs, taste agricultural wonders from Idaho and the Northwest and learn from nationally-recognized food and health experts. Adventurous foodies will have the opportunity to enjoy hiking, biking, and all that the beautiful fall weather offers.

 I’m really looking forward to it, tweet us if you’re planning to be there, it’s known as “foodie heaven”

And trust me, smoking will not be a trend this year or any year.

Skin and Skinny

Occasionally clients ask about my skin. “What’s your secret for great skin?” Now, to me, my skin is sensitive and a little dry but it is generally clear and possibly a little behind in the wrinkle department. As much as I’d like to answer the question with a magic food, I am sure genes play a part in all of this. I also have a secret weapon when it comes to skin and it’s not edible or topical.

Joanna Czech is the facialist to Uma Thurman and Kim Cattrall but more importantly she’s my facialist! Joanna and I met when she was working at a spa in a posh NYC gym; let’s just say it rhymes with free- lock. We were both mildly obsessed with a workout called Powestrike. We punched and kicked and eventually I became a client of Joanna’s, she became a client of mine and we’re  now dear friends. Joanna later branched out and opened Sava spa in Hudson Heights. Recently, Joanna expressed a desire for a small Manhattan location. I smiled and directed her to one of the offices in our suite.

Over the years Joanna and I have traded secrets. She was the one who told me about Ren Skincare and Babor foundation (my one must-have makeup item). She always points out that sometimes best to trim brows versus plucking because “after 29 regrowth can be an issue.” Joanna scolds me when I take matters into my own hands “I see you’ve been doing surgery." Joanna feels the best habits I’ve helped her with have been taking a probiotic and omega 3 supplement daily, eating regularly throughout her day regardless of how booked she is, using dandelion tea for bloating and realizing theimportance of purse snacks. Joanna likes Justin’s almond butter packs and our single serving flax packs.

I am thrilled to have Joanna next door to Foodtrainers. Selfishly I am excited for great eyebrows and more frequent facials. Really though, I’m excited to share my secret skin weapon with all of you.
Joanna has generously offered new clients 10% off (mention Foodtrainers blog). For appointments please text or call Joanna at (646)-331-7801.
Any good skin secrets?