A few weeks ago, we interviewed Ali Conway of Strange Bikinis! Not only is Ali an amazing swimsuit designer, but she’s also a big fan of Bikini Cleanse. Read our interview with Ali for some great recipes, her amazing weight loss results and her personal journey with Bikini Cleanse!
BC: How did you first hear about BIKINI CLEANSE?
AC: I came across bikini cleanse via Instagram. I saw an opportunity to try something new and maybe help another small company along the way. They agreed to let me try to cleanse and I’m so proud to say that I completed it and FEEL great!
BC: Was this cleanse for a special occasion or trip?
AC: I started the Bikini Cleanse because it seemed like a great way to jump start a healthier way of living and eating. Over the summer one would think I would stay fit and healthy, but the truth is, I slave away over Strange Bikinis and barely look up. Before you know it I’m starving and I go for quick and easy. I’m also a huge fan of Dr. Pepper and stick to a strict routine of one big gulp a day! I won’t lie, sometimes a big gulp and a grill cheese is all I eat during the summer. Then of course I travel a lot. I went to Barcelona, Spain, Las Vegas, Napa, and Burning Man all with in about a month and a half. I was in desperate need of a healthier diet and yeah, I want to look good too, but mainly I want to feel good.
BC: What was your health regimen (diet and workout routine) like before the 7-day cleanse? What’s it like now?
AC: I have always worked out steadily, yoga, running my dogs, or spin/ boot camp classes. I still regularly work out 3-6 times a week.
BC: How did you feel during the cleanse? What was your biggest obstacles? What was your favorite part?
AC: Days one through three were brutal. I’m fortunate enough to work for myself and cooking or working out at any time is not an issue. However, I do hold down a side job to keep my Strange Bikinis afloat, and that was the hardest part about this cleanse. Italian food staring me in the face every evening when I’m the hungriest. Rough, But I pushed through and didn’t break from my goal. Days four and five were rough only because it was the opening weekend for the NFL, which meant parties. I was tempted, but I tried to drink plenty of water and it really wasn’t THAT hard. On Saturday, I did wake up at 4 am to go to the Reno Balloon Races, where fresh pastries and warm lattes tempted me. Then I went to the Camel Races where beer, hot dogs, and fried everything were taunting me. I don’t know how I did it. I guess by this point I realized I feel better without that crap. The thought of “not settling for what you want right now so that you could have what you want in the future” started to set in.
BC: How much weight did you lose?
AC: I lost 10 lbs. I was a true small…
BC: How did you feel once the cleanse was over?
AC: I wanted to keep going. I went on for about 3 weeks with the diet aspect and I went for about 8 weeks with a strict workout plan. I felt great, then I got a nasty cough/cold that wiped me out until now.
BC: Can you tell us about your daily routine during the cleanse? What workouts did you do? What recipes did you try? Etc.
AC: For dinner, I had a grass fed organic New York steak. I let my steak marinate in balsamic vinegar all day. I used my George Foreman grill for easy cooking and clean up. I used garlic powder and also some fresh garlic shucks on top of the steak. I sautéed 1 cup of spinach and 1 cup of kale with water and olive oil. I also made a lettuce burger: Replace the buns of your traditional burger with lettuce. I cooked my burger on my George Foreman grill. I seasoned it with pepper, sautéed mushrooms and pan fried a slice of eggplant to add to the burger.
BC: Is there anything special you want to share with us? Any stories?
AC: I started the Bikini Cleanse because it seemed like a great way to jump start a healthier way of living and eating. I was in desperate need of a healthier diet and yeah, I want to look good too, but mainly I want to feel good. The first few days were hard but by the last few I stopped feeling hungry and had plenty of energy, if not more. I learned to create entrees from food at home and not overload anything with salt/sugar or unnecessary condiments. The food I made was so wholesome and filling. My creativity really started to come through with the dishes I created. Overall, I would recommend Bikini Cleanse to anyone who wants to look and feel great before a vacation or wedding or big event. I have lost 10 pounds and all my jeans are big on me now.! My start weight was 145 lbs, now I’m at 135 lbs! I’m definitely going to try to keep to a more simplistic diet. Not use some much salt, CUT OUT BIG GULPS, and stay away from carbs. I know myself and I know that I will never fully give all those things up because I enjoy going out to eat far too much, but I am going to do my best! I will keep you posted.
Tags: bikini cleanse, bikini ready, strange bikinis, testimonial, weight loss Posted by