It's not difficult to find an overweight twenty-something in North America. If you look a little harder you may find a person who’s managed to lose weight and get in shape. But show me one woman who weighed over 200 pounds in her twenties, gave birth to three children, and ended up a swimsuit model in her forties! Don't worry. You don't have to show her to me; I'll show her to you. Her name is Tosca Reno.

If anyone knows what it takes to lose weight, get in shape and stay that way, it's Tosca. It can be difficult to take some fitness professionals seriously – sure, they work out and eat properly. But most of them worked out through their teen years and into their twenties ... where they still are, childless and unlived. Tosca has lived a little. 

Born in Lachine, Quebec, Tosca Reno graduated from Queen's University with a BSc, and from Toronto's York University with a BEd. But along with knowledge, she found she had gained so much fat that she tipped the scales at over 200 pounds.

After college Tosca married and had three children, all girls, now in their teens and twenties. Over the years her weight went up and down until finally at the age of 40 she had had enough. That's when Tosca discovered Eating Clean. Now she uses her beauty to grace the pages of magazines, she uses her chutzpah to beat beautiful women half her age in figure competitions, and she uses her brains, experience, and sense of humor to write regular articles for Reps! and Maximum Fitness, a regular column for Oxygen magazine, and three books, including the best-selling The Butt Book, and now The Eat-Clean Diet. She also has a website, www.eatcleandiet

Name: Tosca Reno

Birthday: May 22, 1959

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Website: http://www.toscareno.com/

Diet Detective: Hello Tosca, thanks so much for agreeing to do this interview. I must say that when I was told about your book, I thought okay, another “healthy” cookbook. But my goodness—what a book! Great, simple recipes, smart advice, user friendly—and the photos—nice job! My first question is really about how you became a health and fitness guru? What motivated you to get started?

Tosca: I was at the end of my rope. I was in a terrible marriage, I was depressed, and I was 200 lbs. I couldn’t even get up the stairs without huffing and puffing. I had always been in relatively good health before this time in my life, but I realized I couldn’t go on like this. Not with 3 children who needed me. I got a gym membership and started eating properly and the rest is history. When I finally took control of my life everything fell into place, including fitness competitions, a column in Oxygen magazine, and now my Eat-Clean series.

Diet Detective: About that great book—The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook—Did you create most of the recipes? What inspired the book?  Do you cook all the time?

Tosca: The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook has sprung from The Eat-Clean Diet. I included a few recipes in the back of this first book and the demand for more was huge. I have always enjoyed being in the kitchen. My mother taught me how to make delicious soups, roasts, and stews. Every recipe has been hand-tailored by me to fit the Clean-Eating lifestyle. They are some of my favorite foods put together to create outstanding meals. I don’t have time to spend all day in the kitchen, but when it comes to breakfast, lunch and dinner I will ONLY be putting clean food on my family’s plates. 

Diet Detective: I read that you were once 200 pounds? How can that be? And that you didn’t start to lose weight until you were 40 years old? You have to tell us how you did that—absolutely amazing!

Tosca: It’s easy to gain weight when you eat terribly and never exercise. Wasn’t running after my kids enough? Not when I had an ice cream addiction. At 40 I realized my health was in serious jeopardy. I took action immediately. Cardio became my best friend and I would run for miles on the treadmill. It was easy to clean up my bad habits by NOT having junk food in the house. The pounds literally melted off. It wasn’t until I discovered weight training that I really shaped my body into what it is today.  

Diet Detective: Tell us about eating clean, what do you mean? Can you give us a few examples?

Tosca: Clean-eating is simply a way of eating based on choosing natural whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and proteins, healthy fats, and fat-free and sugar-free dairy products. You also must avoid chemical calories, sugars and even fake sugars. There are no gimmicks here… no fancy foods. It’s just a matter of knowing what to buy and what not to buy when you go into the grocery store.

Diet Detective: Do you believe it’s difficult to “eat clean?” Does it require lots of cooking and preparation—what about those of us who just don’t have the time?

Tosca: Clean-Eating takes no more preparation than doing your grocery shopping and making a meal. I take a cooler with me every day so I always have lean protein and complex carbs for every meal. I have become a huge fan of leftovers, and in fact you will often hear me talk about "planned leftovers." I always make more than enough of every meal so I can take the rest with me for lunch the next day. 

Diet Detective: How did you learn to cook?

Tosca: My mother is an excellent cook. We always had oatmeal for breakfast and delicious soups and stews as children. She still comes over and whips up wonderful things when she comes to visit. Her cooking isn’t fancy, but it’s heart warming and nutritious. I have her to thank for my skills in the kitchen. 

Now, a few more personal questions so readers can get to know about you.

Diet Detective: If you could eat one unhealthy food (candy, cakes, etc..) whenever you wanted without gaining weight, what would it be?

Tosca: Cheese. Yum! I am Dutch through and through, and this is certainly a treat I like to have every once in a while. The difference is I don’t smother every meal in cheese. I do allow myself to have a square of low-fat hard cheese now and then.

Diet Detective: What’s your favorite breakfast?

Tosca: Caledon Baked Oatmeal is a recipe you’ll find in The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook. It is my favorite meal to make for breakfast, especially on Sunday mornings or during the holidays when I have a lot of family at my house. It’s so easy to put together. Pop it in the oven and you have a decadent and nutritious breakfast.

Diet Detective: It’s obvious you work out—you don’t look like you do just from clean eating. What do you do, what’s your routine?

Tosca: First of all, let me remind you that you can lose significant weight from Eating Clean. You’ll see in The Eat-Clean Diet book that nutrition is 80% of the equation and training is 10% (hint, buy the book to see what the other 10% is). You’ll end up a slimmer version of your former flabby self. But if you want serious definition weight training is the way to go. I am in the gym 5 times each week. I really don’t have a lot of time, so I spend 30-40 minutes doing strength training exercises. I will incorporate 3 days a week of cardio for 30 minutes. As you can see, I don’t spend hours in the gym. It’s just not necessary when you are Eating Clean. My next book, The Eat-Clean Workout book will be out in January for more information on fitness.  

Diet Detective: If you could do only one strength training exercise (using weights) what would it be?

Tosca: Lunges! They challenge your entire thigh, your calves, glutes and your core. They elevate your heart rate, too.  

Diet Detective: What’s your favorite healthy ingredient? What’s the one thing you’d suggest people keep in their kitchen if they want to cook healthy meals?

Tosca: Frozen vegetables. Although I prefer fresh, frozen are great to throw into any meal to kick up the health factor a bit, even when you are really pressed for time or energy. They’re quick and easy and still contain the nutrients found in fresh. 

Diet Detective: What’s the one kitchen utensil or tool that you can’t live without?

Tosca: I have this great grill pan I found at Williams-Sonoma. I cook everything in there; chicken, veggies, eggs. It’s like having a barbecue in the house.

Diet Detective: What do you consider the world’s most perfect food?

Tosca: Quinoa. I am trying to convert everyone to this "grain". (It's actually a seed.) Its name means “mother grain” in the Mayan language. The Maya survived off of this grain. It is jam packed with nutrients and tastes wonderful, and it's great for people with gluten sensitivity.

Diet Detective: What person do you respect most, or who motivates you?

Tosca: My family is my #1 motivation. I really want to be present and fully participating in all of the events my kids will go through in life, and I want to be with them as long as possible.  

Diet Detective: What do you do to reduce stress/relax/center your mind? Do you participate in an organized relaxation activity such as yoga, meditation or tai chi?

Tosca: My daughter has just introduced me to yoga. I was skeptical at first, but now I go once a week. It really helps to calm me down and stretch me out. Other than that, I love brewing a pot of herbal tea and sitting down with my family to chat after a long day of work.  

Diet Detective: Do you have a Calorie Bargain? What food did it replace? 

Tosca: Well, as I mentioned before, I have a cheese weakness. A great Calorie Bargain is low-fat cheese, cottage cheese, or goat cheese to replace regular cheese.  

Diet Detective: What was your worst summer job?

Tosca: Flipping burgers at a local fast food joint. It wasn’t ideal for maintaining my waist line.  

Diet Detective:  What did you want to be at the age of 5?

Tosca: I have always wanted to be a writer. I constantly have my nose in a book and writing just came naturally. I have had many a career, from teaching to interior design; it’s wonderful to finally be doing what I love! If there is one thing you take from this interview, may it be that it’s NEVER too late to start.

Thank you!!!!

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