Tosca Reno is the personification of fitness. An extraordinarily fit, stunningly beautiful woman, she exudes confidence and a can-do spirit that is absolutely contagious. You’ll want to fundamentally change your diet and run to the gym aft er meeting her. It’s no wonder, then, that her story has reverberated so powerfully for so many women and men who have tried everything under the sun to not only shed excess weight, but to regain their youthful health and sense of well being. Tosca’s books, ‘Th e Eat Clean Diet’ series, offers readers everything they need, from technical explanations, to simple and delicious recipes. Everything you need to change your life forever. After our founder, Hulya, was given one of her books, we just had to catch up with Tosca and discuss her story, along with the concept of Eating Clean.

What made you decide to get into shape? Was it a eureka moment, or was it a long time coming?
I decided to get into shape because what I had been doing wasn’t working for me. I was fat and not fine with it. I was sick and unable to get through the day without a nap or continuous hits of sugar. I looked twice my age and I was only 39 years old. There had to be more for me. I wanted something better.

What was the biggest hurdle you had to pass while getting into shape?
Th e biggest hurdle was getting my children to see I was going to be a better version of myself by making these healthy changes. Eating Clean and training was going to make me happy and I had to keep on that path despite the fact that my kids were concerned I would become a different person, somehow not the same mother.

How did you overcome those difficulties?
I stayed the course realizing that by taking better care of myself I would be a good example to my children so they could learn from me in a positive way. I made a plan and put myself first on the Honey Do list. In doing so I turned myself around.

What were your friend’s reactions to your amazing transformation?
Everyone around me thought I had done something quite remarkable because not only did I look slim and fit, I looked ten years younger. Th ey wanted to do what I was doing.

What is the basis for the Eat Clean Diet?
Th e basis of the ECD is eating more to weigh less but eating foods that are minimally processed if at all, unrefi ned, whole and nutritious. You eat six times per day, small portions and always a mixture of lean protein and complex carbohydrates at each meal. Drink three liters of water per day. Above all, stay away from sugar, it is poison and destroys not only the delicate inner workings of the organs, but also your health and physique.

What made you decide to compete in physique contests?
This was the ultimate way to prove to myself that I had really made positive changes to my body and my lifestyle and that I knew what I was doing with respect to food. It was extreme but I proved to myself I was no longer the Fat Girl.

How much of your success was dieting and how much of it was gained in the gym?
Eighty percent of my physique transformation was based on nutrition. Ten percent is training and ten percent is genetics.

You believe in juicing, so what’s you personal favorite combo?
I don’t believe in juicing 100 peercent. I will do it occasionally for a reset detox at the start of each season. When I juice I always use as much pulp as possible from the fruits and vegetables I am using. And I rarely juice fruit alone. Instead I focus on leafy greens and green plants to form the base of my juice. So my favorite combo is spinach, alfalfa sprouts, kale, pineapple, a splash of raw apple cider vinegar, ice, celery and green apple.



What is the connection between good sex and Eating Clean?
Sex requires healthy hormones and good blood fl ow. To achieve these your diet must be in excellent order. Eating Clean takes care of this because you eat plenty of greens, particularly those containing Vitamin C which supports good blood fl ow. Eating Clean also advocates eating healthy fat, and this is where hormones come from. Without them we have no color, no vibrancy, libido or desire.

Do you place a lot of emphasis on taking vitamins? Are there brands that are better than others?
I actually don’t emphasize taking supplements. If the diet is good and a person Eats Clean, I think you can get most of your nutrients from the food you eat. If you don’t eat well, of course the trouble begins and ends with vitamins and you need to supplement. Also, our food supply is tainted and foods do not have the same nutritional value as they used to. So adding a good quality supplement can be of value.

What are some of the worst health choices people make?
They skip meals, eat too much sugar and refined food, eat unhealthy or manufactured fats, don’t eat vegetables and dehydrate themselves. It’s a big mess.

What are some easy steps you can take to improve your overall health?
Stop eating sugar, eat more vegetables, drink three liters of water and eat clean!