Maria Menounos Talks Success, Diets and Guys: Interview Exclusive

Maria Menounos: The EveryGirl's Guide to Life: HarperCollins/It Books

Maria Menounos on her new book, "The EveryGirl's Guide to Life."

We all know Maria Menounos for her beauty and brains on shows like "Access Hollywood" and "Today," but unless you've read her new book, "The EveryGirl's Guide to Life," you probably don't know the secrets to her incredible success at age 32 (including how she once lost 40 pounds -- amazing). This week Maria chatted exclusively with LimeLife about her win-win approach to her career, the organization system that leads to EveryGirl's inner bliss, and, yes LimeLifers: Maria's so-easy tips for keeping the weight off.

Maria Menounos was raised in Boston by parents who had emigrated from Greece before winning major pageant titles as a teenager. Now known as one of the staple figures in entertainment news, Maria is sharing the secrets of her self-made success (and her sanity, despite her ridiculous schedule) in her new book, "The EveryGirl's Guide to Life." Here she chats with LimeLife about some of her most useful rules.

LimeLife: Maria, you're in your early thirties and already such a success. Do you have a specific philosophy or mantra as you're approaching daunting work projects that helps you operate so fearlessly?

Maria Menounos: That's so funny, I actually have a whole page on that in the book. "Ask and you shall receive" is my favorite, favorite one; and "Keep your mind in possibility." Minds in possibility is such a big, big thing. There's nothing that's not possible -- we put people on the moon. And yet every time a project comes up, there are always those people in the room who are like, "But you can't do this, and you can't do that."

I don't do well with "can't" or "not possible" or "no." Those are two for sure.

LimeLife: And what part of your personality has been the biggest contributor to your success?

Maria Menounos: The part that creates win-win scenarios. I definitely think there's an art to it, but you have to create win-win scenarios to make things work. For example, at "Access Hollywood," if I'm doing something for an outside show, like when I'm doing the Super Bowl for FOX, I always think, How can I get "Access" more coverage so that they don't miss me not being part of something that they're currently doing? You can't just think that people are here to serve you: you have to serve back. So figuring out a win-win scenario can generally do the trick. You figure out what you want to do, and everyone benefits.

LimeLife: Is it true that you once lost 30 pounds?

Maria Menounos: Forty! Yeah.

LimeLife: That's amazing. We've seen in the book and on "Today" that you sip hot water throughout the day to stay hydrated and energized. Are there any other tricks you practice every day that help you stay trim and feeling light?

Maria Menounos: I try to eat clean. I worked with this yogi who I'd interviewed for "The Today Show" whose name is Cameron Alborzian. He taught me, "Stop thinking about meals. Stop thinking about breakfast, lunch or dinner and just eat when you're hungry -- and when you're hungry, eat clean. Eat blueberries and apples and vegetables, and simple stuff." He said, "Don't overcomplicate your plate, because that overcomplicates digestion." So that's what I've been following, and it's not only served my health, but my energy is completely different now.

Check back tomorrow, when we'll fill you in on Maria Menounos's down-to-earth attitude about romance and why she credits her "amazing life" to her disciplined at-home organization system. Also check out Maria's EveryGirl tip videos at www.bing.com/Maria.

The "EveryGirl's Guide to Life" is available wherever books are sold.

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