The 1rst Date Strategy You Should Use "'Til Death Do Us Part"

You know one thing I'll personally never do? Be that girl who "let herself go" after years of marriage. I am sure a lot of husbands and wives never think that they will neglect their appearance either.

Yet, somewhere between Date #1 and the the high school graduation of Baby #3, there have been less trips to the gym and more lazy Sundays full of Netflix and Cape Cod Potato Chips. By the way, if you can stop after just one of those 100 Calorie bags of Cape Cod Potato Chips, you are barely human, but I digress...

In my opinion, balance is key. People need to live their lives and that doesn't mean kale and quinoa from now until 2018. Though I do eat a lot of kale and quinoa.... Also my opinion: As much as its absolutely incredible to be loved for exactly who you are and regardless of how you look, you need to look your best if you want your partner to be attracted to you forever-ever. And don't you want to be with someone you could still feel passionate chemistry with?!

Perhaps, some long-time couples need to take a lesson on how some singles (successfully!) approach dating. Think about it. When it comes to first dates, the way you package what you are selling is just as important as what you are selling. So one of the most important first date strategies that I could offer my clients is to look and feel their absolute best on Date Night and beyond! It sounds simple, but just showing up and looking great can make a huge difference. 

As someone who goes "all out" in terms of prepping for a date night-no matter how long I have been dating him-I can tell you that looking and feeling your best isn't just about the type of jeans, makeup, or cologne you wear. It actually starts with good health and nutrition.

In that spirit, I recently talked to my new friend, Chelsea Kmiec, a Los Angeles based Nutrition & Fitness Coach, to get her best date night tips.

One of the first things she suggested really resonated with me.
"Drinking plenty of water the days before and the day of your date will keep you hydrated and help keep hunger at bay. " 

This is SO key, because you need to be present and focused on the person across the table. Not the tuna tartar, you guys!  Speaking of which, Chelsea suggests snacking on avocado or raw almonds beforehand to keep your tummy flat and reduce hunger.  She reminds me that these snacks also slow the absorption of alcohol. Clearly, this is a good thing in a lot of instances--especially if you aren't trying to be too wasted because you are hoping for some "sexy time" later.

Re: "Sexy time": Even if you've been together for decades and consider your partner intimately acquainted with your morning breath, you should still freshen it up for Date Night! I LOVE Chelsea's suggestion for fresh breath and that is to try chewing on an actual mint leaf or dropping a mint leaf into your water!  "This is  much better than using breath mints or chewing gum as both contain artificial sweeteners that can aggravate your stomach and cause you to feel bloated." Umm, yeah, no thanks on the bloat... 

These nutrition strategies are pretty simple, huh? Come on now, I have done a lot more for love, and I am sure you can too......