Mariah Carey Connection

Looking toned, trim and glowing with health, Mariah Carey was recently snapped frolicking on a beach in the Caribbean.

There was no sign of the plumpish curves that were apparent last year, when the singer stepped out in a tight-fitting black dress.

And it is all down to Mariah – who turns 38 next month – changing her lifestyle in a bid to keep pace with younger stars.

Her decision to shape up came after she ballooned from a UK size 8 to a size 14 six months ago. For Mariah, it was a crisis point.

A source close to the star tells us: “She kept having to raid old closets for bigger clothes or buy new stuff.

Finally, she just said to herself: `You’re stronger than this – you can be any size you want.’”

Mariah is not alone in hitting a low as she nears 40. New research by Warwick University found that women are programmed to get depressed as they hit their 40s, confirming the theory of a “mid-life crisis”.

The good news is – as Mariah proves – it’s never too late to regain your sexy shape by making diet and lifestyle changes.

Mariah lost two stone and regained her fab figure by following a low-fat diet of fish, soups, veg and fruit – lots of blueberries, plums and grapes, which contain anti-ageing antioxidants.

She told a friend: “I discovered that I actually like munching on carrots, celery and even broccoli.”

“I still eat a lot of bland fish and soups but I’ve almost cut out the snacking on chips and cookies.”

“That stuff was really adding to the weight-gain and giving my skin an unattractive, waxy look.

But I don’t miss the junk food at all now.”

Thrilled with the results of her new regime, she told a friend: “I’m muscular and have a butt and thighs, so I’ll never be as skinny as Paris Hilton.”

“But I think I look good and I feel good, too. I hope I’m turning a few heads for a while to come.”

HOW TO FOLLOW MARIAH’S DIET
Pick one of the breakfasts, lunches and dinners below with two snacks a day.

Ditch ready meals for fresh foods to reduce your daily intake of salt, sugar and saturated fat.

Eat regularly to keep energy levels stable.

Steam or poach rather than fry.

Swap hard cheeses for soft ones such as goats’ cheese.

Try to eat fish, three to four times a week – make two of them oily fish.

Eat only skinless chicken and limit your intake of red meat.

Breakfasts
Porridge made with skimmed milk and a handful of mixed berries.

Muesli with mixed nuts and seeds, and a low-fat yoghurt.

Banana and blueberry smoothie made with skimmed milk. Lunches

Homemade soups made from brightly-coloured vegetables but no cream. Try using pumpkin, tomato, broccoli, celery, watercress and red pepper. Serve with a wholegrain roll – no butter.

Dinners
Poached salmon with ovenroasted red pepper and courgette.

Fresh tuna steak with tomato salsa sauce and green salad with red grapes and pomegranate seeds.

Two-egg omelette using Omega-3 enriched eggs, with goats’ cheese and red onion.

Snacks
An apple

Two plums

10 red grapes

Celery and carrot sticks with hummus

Glass of purple grape juice

Handful of almonds

4 ANTIAGEING FOODS
Eat these foods at least three times a week

Fish
Why? It’s a great source of leptin, a protein which acts like a hormone and controls your appetite so you don’t over-eat. Plus, according to Dr Perricone, creator of the “fish facelift” diet, oily fish such as salmon contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which leave skin less wrinkled.

Purple fruit
Why? Grapes, plums and dark berries are packed with powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins that can help fight the free radical damage that breaks down collagen in the skin, causing wrinkles and lines to form.

Almonds
Why? They’re high in essential fatty acids, calcium and magnesium, which help banish water retention. Plus they’re packed with vitamin E, which can help to balance your mood-affecting hormones.

Broccoli
Why? It’s high in chromium, a mineral that helps the pancreas stabilise insulin release, so you won’t get fluctuating blood sugars levels that lead to food cravings and bingeing.

Source: Daily Mirror | Scan & Text: Mariah Connection UK