Reshaping It All (8 page)

A Slice of Advice

Dear Candace,

I've been following you your whole career. I loved you on
Full House
and still do. I've seen all your TV movies on Lifetime and Hallmark. My kids and I watched you on
That's So Raven
and now we're watching
Make It or Break It.

You seem to look better and better as you age! You've certainly slimmed down over the years, so can you tell me what you do? I'd really like to know what you eat on a daily basis. Thanks!

—Molly

Dear Molly,

Thanks so much for being a lifetime fan! I hope I'll continue to make good movies and TV shows you'll want to watch for many more years.

I certainly have slimmed down over the years. I really refined my diet about eight years ago and have stuck to it ever since. Because our bodies change as we get older, I've realized that I had to adjust and streamline my diet with each passing year. Even the amount of food I could eat three years ago is slightly different from today. It's true that as we get older, we have to work harder. I've kept a close eye on the foods I eat and the exercise I do, and I know what works well for my body. My body and I have a strong relationship, working together to stay fit, strong, lean, and healthy.

Here's an example of what I may eat in a day:

Breakfast:

1/2 cup of cottage cheese on 1 slice of wheat toast with lots of black pepper on top

1 grande decaf, nonfat latte

Lunch:

Salad bar: Dark green lettuce (I pass up the iceberg because there is not as much nutritional value in it, nor does it keep you full for very long), tomatoes, garbanzo beans, cucumber, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, raisins, with a scoop of tuna fish or pulled chicken. I also stick to a clear dressing like olive oil and balsamic, Italian or shiitake mushroom. I measure out two capfuls of dressing and pour over my salad, or keep it on the side and dip my fork into the dressing before each bite. You'll realize just how little dressing you need when you do it this way. And it saves a whole lot of calories!

Snack around 4 p.m.:

1 cup of fresh berries or a banana. If I'm really hungry, I may roll up 2 turkey slices with a piece of low fat mozzarella cheese, lettuce, and some spicy mustard.

Dinner:

Palm-sized piece of lean meat (chicken, pork tenderloin, or fish), four pieces of asparagus, and a side salad. I keep away from breads at night. Two pieces of dark chocolate for dessert (2 times per week).

—Candace

A Pinch of Practicality

There is a popular acronym known in the land of the lean as HALT. It means that when you feel like reaching for food, ask yourself first if you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. If you're hungry, then proceed, but if you are reaching for food in response to emotion, then halt your behavior immediately and deal with the problem at hand.

There's nothing inherently wrong with putting food to your mouth, but if you're doing it to fill a void that should be handled another way, then you're not being the best manager that your body deserves.

Next time you're mindlessly looking for something to eat, ask yourself if any of the following are eating at you:

• Hungry

• Angry

• Lonely

• Tired

• Depressed

• Guilty

• PMS

• Thirsty

• Stressed

• Discouraged

• Wounded

Any one of these things can knock you off your game should they remain unchecked. Some of them are easy enough to correct, while others may require some soul searching, prayer, and counseling.

Food For Thought

A recap of Scripture to meditate on:

• And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom. 12:2 KJV)

• A chord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Eccl. 4:12)

• Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (2 Cor. 13:1)

The Candy Dish

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Eccl. 4:9–10)

From My Stove to Yours

Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

12 ounces thickly sliced lean bacon (or turkey bacon), cut crosswise

into thin strips

1 Spanish onion, thinly sliced

8 garlic cloves, halved lengthwise

2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a large, deep skillet, cook the bacon over moderately high heat until browned, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Pat off excess fat. Add the onion and garlic to the pan, reduce the heat to moderate and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the softened vegetables from the pan and set aside. Add the Brussels sprouts in batches and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown on the outside. Add the reserved bacon and vegetables to the Brussels sprouts in the pan along with salt and pepper to taste. Cover skillet with a lid and cook, stirring occasionally, until sprouts are just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

SIX

Dressed in Designer Genes

Looking back at the wardrobe I had on Full House it's hard to believe that many fans considered me a fashion icon back in the day. Yellow scrunched socks, printed oversized sweaters, MC Hammer pants, Doc Martins, and big bangs set the look for DJ Tanner, television's young fashionista. And let's not forget the shoulder pads. From about the age of eleven, I had shoulder pads under nearly every outfit I wore. In fact the wardrobe department had a special pair made for me that snapped onto my bra straps so I could wear them full-time. Why, I'll never know. I could certainly understand wearing them under a blazer, but pajamas and T-shirts with shoulder pads just didn't make sense.

I've accepted the return of 1980s fashion even going as far as to embrace a pair of leggings of my own, but I still can't bring myself to wear shoulder pads or let a scrunchy enter my house. Can't do it.

It's interesting to note that people on the Internet are still asking how to style their hair like DJ Tanner. And others, noticing that it went from curly to straight, ask if I curled it every day. Here's the story on the hair: it's naturally straight with a little wave. During the summer before the second season of
Full House,
I got a perm, so I came to the set with it already curly. Once the perm grew out, I wore my hair straight with bangs that had a lot of volume. Not the standard straight-up 1980s style but a sort of winged shape that covered my forehead. I originally had it styled that way at a swanky salon in Beverly Hills, and taking the style back to the hairdressers on set, we realized they couldn't quite get the same look. So the producers and my mom decided I'd go to the salon in Beverly Hills every tape day morning and have it done there before heading over to the
Full House
set.

When I consider Andrea Barber's wardrobe, I really can't complain. Kimmy Gibbler was the epitome of fashion at its worst, and on those rare occasions when the wardrobe department let us dig in and take some of the clothing home, Andrea got the wee end of the stick.

Even though I was admired by thousands of young girls around the world, I still struggled with my own imperfections, concerned about weight and concerned about boys. We women are funny that way.

Things are looking up these days as far as wardrobe goes. Summer, the character I play on
Make It or Break It,
has the cutest designer duds. While most of the girls on the show are wearing leotards, I'm dressing in Trina Turk and Rebecca Taylor outfits. On an episode titled "Are We Having Fun Yet?" I wore an outfit by Theory, which was a short purple satin skirt with a silvery silk tank top that had a few ruffles across the front. It was topped with a black sweater adorned with jewels around the neckline. Black tights and black booties, completed the fun party look. Summer definitely has a sense of style, and I'm loving it!

The fun thing about being fitted while you're on a TV show is that there is a seamstress on hand, so everything is tailored and fit perfectly for me. It's so disappointing to go shopping after and find that things don't fit off the rack the way you know they can.

When I'm at home with Val and the kids or just hanging out with my friends, I'm most comfortable wearing jeans. I love my True Religions, my Rich and Skinny, and my Citizens of Humanity. And since it's so warm in California, I throw on a tank top, slip on my Havaianas and I'm ready to go.

I love fashion. Shopping seems to be my specialty, and living in LA gives me the opportunity to visit so many great stores. Shopping on Main Street in Santa Monica and then stopping at an outdoor cafe for a spinach salad (dressing on the side) and cold drink makes for a great afternoon out.

People are always asking me about my style and how to stay current. The key to finding those pieces is to TRY, TRY, and TRY them on again! Most of us gravitate toward the styles we've always worn and feel comfortable in. Don't be afraid to step out of the box once in a while. Only you and the dressing room mirror will see if it's really that horrible. I do think it's important to go shopping with a trusted friend whose opinion is honest and hopefully has some sort of fashion sense. If I could go with each and every one of you, I would! That's how much I love shopping. I'm even known to do my own version of
What Not to Wear
with my friends and their closets. Oh, I'm getting excited just thinking about it! I like to step out of my comfort zone and try things on that I wouldn't normally buy. As a result, I'm often surprised at how different something looks on my body than it does on the hanger.

I love shopping at department stores because of the enormous selection, but boutiques are great because of the personalized attention, helping me find the shapes and styles that fit me best. One more secret of mine—I'm a
Lucky
magazine subscriber. This practical fashion and shopping magazine gives me ideas on what's new, where to find it, and what fits my body type best.

As a Christian, modesty is also important. It's something I struggle with at times because everyone's view of modesty is different.

For some the idea of fashion is frustrating to say the least. Going to the mall isn't all that fun when you're restricted to oversized clothing at oversized prices. Wearing the fashion is frustrating when muffin tops are spilling over your jeans, underpants show every time you sit down, and skinny jeans are anything but skinny. I hear you, girlfriend.

Clothes, makeup, hair, weight, and wardrobe—let's keep it all in perspective. It's fun to look pretty and to feel good while doing it, but I often remind myself that this outer shell is simply an envelope for my spirit. The contents are precious, eternal, and costly, bought with a price, and the envelope has been fashioned by the world's greatest Designer, the Creator Himself. We are each God's one-of-a-kind design, and there isn't a single person in this world that's a match.

I encourage you to read and meditate on Psalm 139:13–16:

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them. (NKJV)

Perhaps you're a size sixteen, you're basically happy with yourself, but you longed to be a few sizes smaller. You might even feel that shedding a few pounds would give you more energy, add to your health, and give your figure a more feminine appearance. You may even dream of the day when you finally walk into a mall and find that the styles you like fit you well.

On the other hand you may ask yourself,
Is it really God's will, or is it my own? Does God care if I'm a size sixteen or a six? Does God care if I lose weight?

Let me first say this: God loves you, just the shape you are, and there isn't a single number on the scale that could ever change that. Do you know how enthralled He is with your beauty? How He knows the number of hairs on your head, and how He treasures every minute you spend quiet in His presence?

Yes, He loves you just as you are, regardless of your size, and there is nothing average about you or His love.

But let me also say that God designed the female body in a beautiful form—curvaceous, soft, and feminine. He understands the desire we have to walk across the mall, to slip into smaller sized pants, to like the reflection we see, and to hold a form of beauty both inside and out. After all, He created all things beautiful, from the smallest detail of a flower to the vastness of the midnight sky.

And while He loves us, He has given us the opportunity to improve our quality of life, but ultimately you will have to make that choice. No one will make it for you. Only you can weigh the cost and make that decision.

Is it God's desire that I care for my body? Since it's the temple of the Holy Spirit, I have to say yes. Many health concerns are out of our hands, but in many cases a healthy body is a reflection of an inner life that is balanced and one that has exercised self-control.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal. 5:22–23)

If your body is rolling you out of bed instead of you rolling it, you've gotta wonder what your heart is thinking.