Healthy Tips

7 Reasons Why the World is Best Explored on Foot

2010-07-21T23:10:00.000-07:00

We travel the world for pleasure, business or to meet family and friends, and mostly, we let ourselves be transported by planes, trains, cars and whatever means are appropriate. But, if we stop for a moment and think about the origin of the word 'travel' we will realize that we often neglect the most natural means of transport - our feet.

'Travel' derives from the Old French word 'travail' which means work. This in turn apparently goes back to the Latin word 'tripalium' which was a three-legged sort of whip used by the Romans to drive slaves. Being on the move was work, walking miles and miles to get from A to B, getting dirty and sweaty in the process.

No modern-day traveler is required to submit himself to torture, but a little bit of 'travail' by exploring our destinations on foot, as opposed to hopping on a tour bus and letting yourself be guided to pre-selected destinations, goes a long way to increasing the pleasure of travel. We travel to satisfy our curiosity and to discover the real side of the country of our choice. If we don't put in a bit of legwork we will miss out on all of the following:

Meeting the locals

You have arrived at your destination and the first thing you do is get your bearings. More after the break...

Plan in hand and shunning a guided tour, I made my way to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. As inevitably happens, the map always looks different than the reality and I decided to ask directions of an elegant lady on the street. We fell into a conversation. "If you are looking for something really typical of Santiago," she said, "you should visit the statue of the 3 Marias, our local heroines."

She continued to explain that said Marias had been three sisters who, during the times of Franco, had suffered serious hardship. Bound on pulling themselves out of misery, they began to design and sew their own clothes and, every day at the dot of 3pm, set out on a walk around the city center, modeling their clothes and, as they had a lot of wit and a sharp tongue, flirting with the students and providing entertainment for an entire city during dreary times. After their death, a statue was erected in their honor and Galician poets even dedicated poems to them. No guidebook mentions this story, which I would not have discovered without taking to the street.

Beating the traffic

Have you ever thought how many taxis, buses and minibuses are needed to ferry tourists around and what that does to the environment? Take to your feet and you use the 'greenest' means of transport possible and, more often than not, you arrive faster than anybody on four wheels.

Our cruise ship had just docked in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the Caribbean island of St. Thomas. I saw that the town center was approximately 2 miles away and decided to walk along the ocean front up to the 99 steps which I wanted to visit. My fellow passengers were not inclined to follow my example and headed for the buses and taxis. "Two miles," one gentleman huffed, "you can't walk that!!" No? I thought to myself. Watch me.

Charlotte Amalie is a small town and the roads are not equipped to accommodate the sudden influx of thousands and thousands of cruise ship passengers, all arriving at once and all headed for the same direction. Result: they got stuck in a traffic jam and looked slightly miffed when I overtook them on foot, happily waving at some very long faces. Moreover, I arrived at the 99 steps and the World Amber Museum well ahead of the crowd and had the place to myself.

Exercise while seeing the sights

There is yet another benefit to exploring on foot. Just think that even one hour of walking at a leisurely pace burns 38 calories at a body weight of 150 lbs. That allows for a little extra treat without fear of putting on the dreaded holiday pounds and beats a treadmill any day.

Avoiding the tourist crowds

Tourist guides and hotel staff will recommend restaurants full of other travelers, but I prefer to go and take a look at where the locals assuage their hunger.

I was richly rewarded for this in Kusadasi, a lovely Turkish port town on the Aegean Sea. Discarding the more elegant places, I opted for a small, half-open place called "Toro" where I saw a lot of Turkish businessmen having their lunch. It had long communal tables and benches and an open hot and cold buffet where you just pointed at what you wanted. Or you could ask for fish and then sit down by the waterfront and watch fisherman pulling out what you were about to eat a few minutes later. The lamb shanks I had were so tender that I didn't need a knife and a rich fruit platter came as free desert. The total bill was a lot cheaper than anywhere else, because if not, the locals would have protested.

Discovering curiosities

The real joy of travel is to come upon sites which aren't mentioned anywhere and that's only possible if you deviate from the beaten path - on foot. Another stop of my cruise was Tortola and its tiny capital Road Town. Meandering along Main Street, I happened upon a folklore museum which was the smallest museum I have ever seen - just one room and easy to miss. I was the only visitor and the curator told me a lot of local stories, which taught me a more about the island life and mentality than any guide book could have.

Seeing nature up close and personal

Taking to your feet allows you to enjoy tropical flora and fauna at close quarters. A botanical garden is fine, but a 'jungle walk' on your own is a much better adventure.

Again in St. Thomas, I saw the Skyride, a cable car going up and down Flag Hill to Paradise Point. I admit, I took it up, but when I discovered a path leading down, I decided to follow it. My first companion was a bright red butterfly which settled on my shoulder and stayed with me all the way. I saw colorful birds and lizards scuttling out of the way and enjoyed wonderful views of the island and the ocean peeking through the trees. Best of all, I was all alone.

Feeling like you belong

In my eyes, that's the best of all. Anybody moving in a group or climbing out of a tourist bus is instantly tagged as a tourist and treated as such. Walking the streets on your own gives you a real feel for the place and - at least for a while - you belong.

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Tips For Skin Protection This Summer

2010-05-24T04:55:00.000-07:00

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The summer should be a time when we can all look forward to spending some time in the sun. Whether it is on the beach, at a barbecue or simply enjoying a book in the garden, relaxing in the sun helps us to de-stress, creates a positive mood and even stimulates the production of vitamin D. However, for many people with skin conditions the sunshine can be a source of irritation and embarrassment. Some skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema can flare up when exposed to sunlight. Sufferers of other skin conditions, such as acne, may simply feel too self-conscious to expose their skin in public. However, there are skin care precautions and steps you can take to help you enjoy the summer without having to avoid the sun. Read more after the break...
Prevention is Better than Cure

Looking after your skin is something you should do all year round, rather than just in anticipation of the summer. Eating well and using the right skin care products will keep your skin healthy and more ready to deal with the effects of sunshine.

1) Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep. An imbalance of any of these can affect your complexion and general well-being.
2) Take Exercise. Exercise promotes the flushing away of toxins out of the body and encourages it to produce the right amount of sebum; a chemical that lubricates the skin and keeps it supple.
3) Avoid drinking and smoking. Drinking in excess can harm and prematurely age the skin, as can smoking.

Skin Condition Sunshine Tips

For Eczema

1) Avoid harsh soap. Soap dries out the skin and can exacerbate the condition.
2) Moisturise regularly. As the sun dries your skin out, replace lost moisture with a gentle and perfume-free moisturiser.
3) Avoid the sea. Seawater is very salty, which can seriously dry out your skin. Also beware of swimming pools that use chlorine, as it can have the same effect.

For Psoriasis

1) Moisturise regularly. Psoriasis sufferers need to keep their skin hydrated - especially in the summer.
2) Limit your sunbathing. While moderate exposure to the sun can have beneficial effects, over-exposure can be painful. Be sure to wear sun-screen of a factor appropriate to your complexion and apply it once every two hours.

For Acne

1) Limit your sunbathing. If you are taking skin care medicine or using certain products, they can make the skin very sensitive and susceptible to burning. Moderate your bathing and wear sun screen.
2) Don't exfoliate. Anything abrasive is likely to encourage your body to produce more sebum, which can then spread the bacteria and cause more spots.

If in Doubt

If you are unsure as how to best manage your skin condition in the summer, it might be best to seek professional advice. Skin clinics have access to specialist medicines and medical technology that can help you manage or even get rid of your skin condition and enjoy the summer sunshine.

Gill Grozier - sk:n was established in 1990 and is the UK's leading provider of skincare conditions treatment and products including: skin conditions, laser hair removal and laser treatments such as hair removal and laser tattoo removal.

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7 tips to Control your Hunger

2010-05-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

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Our fitness trainers try to force us on a diet; our doctors warn us to control our food intake thanks to our high cholesterol levels; our wives and girlfriends have warned us they will walk out on us because of that excess baggage pouring over our belts! It is not as if we haven't tried. But it is just so darned hard to control our hunger! Sound familiar? Stay tuned. Rediff offers you tips to control that darn hunger so that you can go ahead and finally be successful in your attempts to stop overeating. Read more after the break...

1.Eat small frequent meals.

Want to lose weight? Eat more -- frequently, that is. Your body needs food to provide energy, repair damaged muscle tissue, and to carry out various other functions. But there are only so many nutrients it can draw from each meal. Large meals mean more nutrients than your body can handle, thus causing an 'overflow effect'. Thus, go for smaller, more frequent meals. They provide just the right amount of nutrients every few hours, without causing that overflow effect. They also maintain blood sugar levels, thus keeping your appetite and energy levels in control.

2. Don't skip meals!

Skipping meals and going too long without food can turn hunger pangs into irresistible cravings. To start with, don't skip breakfast! It is amazing how so many people skip this meal. If you are one of those, change that nasty food habit. NOW! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your first meal of the day helps replenish all those nutrients lost during that all-night fast. It raises those early morning low blood sugar levels. Missing out on this meal means setting you up for low blood sugar levels and, thus, low energy levels and irresistible hunger pangs and cravings at lunchtime.

3. Eat your veggies!

Vegetables are healthy. They are chockfull with nutrients that can boost your health. They are also rich in fibre, the dieters' secret weapon to control hunger. While all vegetables are beneficial as far as good health and hunger control go, certain veggies, like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and mushrooms, are super-high in fibre and have a negligible amount of calories. They can fill your stomach and control your hunger while filling you with a small amount of calories.

4. Eat more whole grains and less refined carbohydrates.

Whole grains, besides being healthier than their 'nutrient-stripped' refined counterparts, are also higher in fibre.

Thus they are more filling and satisfying. While refined carbs -- like idlis, dosas, white bread, white rice -- may be low in fat, they are higher in fibre. You may run the risk of over-consuming calories.

5. Eat slowly!

Give it a shot. It actually works. The brain actually takes ten minutes longer than the stomach to receive the message that it is full. Thus, eating too fast might cause you to eat beyond the point of fullness without even realising.

6. Sleep and shed those pounds!

Studies have found that people who sleep only five hours every night were 50 per cent more likely to be obese than those who sleep seven to nine hours. Researchers believe lack of sleep affects hormones related to appetite, causing you to gain pounds.

7. Drink more water!

Water is the healthiest, cheapest and most easily available appetite suppressant around. Thirst is often mistaken as hunger. Also, foods with high water content can fill you up easily. They naturally pack fewer calories for their volume. Toss together a salad of lettuce, cucumbers.

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Top 10 Drinks for Summer

2010-04-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

The warmer the weather, the more I want to drink. Does that signal that I have a problem? Maybe. But I, like so many of you, associate this balmy weather with lying out in the sun and sipping fruity concoctions. So, what are the best drinks to enjoy while beating the heat?

1.Margarita

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Always first on my list is the Margarita. This drink says, “I’m whimsical, have a great sense of adventure, and don’t mind trying new things.” You can’t go wrong with it. Cool, refreshing, slushy-like, and it comes in a wide variety of flavors. Just thinking of this drink makes me want to kick off my shoes and dig my toes into the sand. 09 More after the break...

2. Sangria

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What is a lazy day in the sun without a glass of Sangria. Best when sipped from a wine glass while protecting yourself from the sun via a large brimmed straw hat. It’s fizzy and fruity and pretty to look at with it burgundy coloring, typically created from red wine, fruit juices, soda water, fruit and sometimes brandy. Sangria's best served chilled, and goes well with just about anything!

3. Mojito

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Another favorite of mine, as long as it’s not too mint-y. This is exactly why the most finicky cocktail enthusiasts reach for this drink. There are so many possible ways to mess it up that it makes it that much more of a treasure when it’s made just the way you like it.

4. Pina Colada

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“If you like Piña Coladas…” then you’re by yourself on that one. While I’m not a fan of pineapple, coconut, or rum, if Jimmy Buffet thinks you’re cool enough to name a song after, then you deserve a spot on my list.

5. Long Island Iced Tea

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Any drink with the word “tea” built into the name has to be considered a cocktail perfect for a warm day. Long Island Ice Tea is one of the most potent of drinks with it’s medley of spirits, including vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and triple sec. Make sure you have designated a driver before you start throwing these back.

6. Gin and Tonic

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For those of us who are veterans, G&T is another warm weather favorite. Its taste is cool and crisp, with just tonic water, gin, and a twist of lime. However, don't be fooled: easy it is not. Even when done right, it’s not an easy drink to love. Tonic’s slightly bitter taste is a turnoff to most sweet-drink lovers.

7. Martini

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As classic as the icon who takes his “shaken, not stirred.” Its origins have been claimed by post gold rush San Francisco, New York and Martinez, CA. Wherever the origin, Martinis are loved all over the world. It’s the drink we all secretly long to be: Simple yet elegant.

8. Cosmopolitan

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This pink potion is the girly drink of all girly drinks. You can’t help but look in-control when you order it, cute when you hold it, and sexy when you sip it.

9. Mai Tai

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The Tahitian word for “good” and that’s exactly what this drink is. It combines orange and pineapple juices polished off with rum.

10. Mudslide

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Combines my two passions: chocolate and alc0h0l. Enough said. With these drink staples to ward off the hotter days ahead, you’ll stay cool until the first leaf falls.

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Skin Care Tips For Summer

2010-03-10T06:25:00.000-08:00

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Body Care

Summer is the season when you have to take special care of your skin. You may be surprised that your summer skin, which looked radiant throughout winter, suddenly looks dull, blemished and oily. This is because, in winter your skin's natural oils solidifies, whereas in summer it flows freely. It's estimated that 90 percent of wrinkles cause due to sun exposure. The sun's long- and short-wave ultraviolet rays, or UVA and UVB, penetrate the deepest layers of skin, damaging the collagen -- the spongy protein that gives skin it's structure, firmness, and elasticity. Fair skin wrinkles more readily than dark skin because it contains less pigment, which acts as a natural sunscreen, blocking some of the sun's damaging UVA and B rays...Read more after the break...

To prevent wrinkles caused due to sunrays stay out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when it's almost directly overhead and UV radiation is strongest. Stay in the shade as much as possible. And wear protective clothing and plenty of sunscreen. Strive to apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before stepping outside. Sunscreen should always be reapplied after contact with water or after sweating. Sunscreen also should be worn year round--every time you leave the house. Shop for sunscreen that blocks against UVB and UVA rays both believed to induce skin cancer.

Smooth on a moisturizer that contains sunscreen in proper concentration. Put it on before you leave the house and reapply every two hours. Wear proper sunglasses (see our article on sunglasses) and a hat with a broad brim.

Moisturisation is the most important part of daily skin care. Your skin needs more water than anything else and moisturisers are more needed in summer when you lose most of your body salts by sweating. Buy a water-based moisturizer and use it without fail. Make it a habit to wash your face gently with water a number of times in a day (try and use mineral water). You can splash as many as 20 times as long as you don't use very hot or cold water on your skin (which can cause fine vein to appear on your face). Steam your face regularly to open the pores and clean your face of the dirt (five minutes for dry skin and 10 minutes if it is oily). Pat dry with tissue and moisturize.

A few moisturisers you can make at home:

1. Take cucumber juice and watermelon juice in equal proportions and apply on face. You can cool it in the frig before use.

2. Rose water is also a good moisturiser and it can be sprayed on the face to tone and refresh it.

Feet Care

Just as you take care of your body you must not forget your feet and hands. Mostly people neglect their feet and hands and think that they don't have to take care of them or rather feel unnecessary to waste their time on them. Coz believe me there's nothing more off-putting than looking at cracked, dirty heels. So all you have to do is use plenty of water and voila… you will have wonderful and sexy feet and hands you will love to flaunt.

Soak your feet and hands in water for 15/20 minutes. Add a pinch of salt in it…..it is excellent to help you get rid of fatigue. It is advisable to change water from hot to cold. That is for 2 minutes soak your feet in cold water and then soak it in hot water. This is good because it improves your blood circulation. Do this for 15 minutes once a week.

Do not wear shoes and closed footwear in the summer. Wear strappy, low-heeled sandals or some fancy flats. Wear a footwear that will allow air circulation and which are comfortable.

The most important tip: drink lots and lots of water. Drink at least 15 glasses of water. Via Link

Why it is Healthier to Consume Raw Potatoes than Cooked One

2009-12-14T06:23:00.000-08:00

Consuming raw potatoes has more health benefits than cooked one. Because of its high content of potassium, sulphur, phosphorus, and chlorine, undiluted raw potato juice is proven to be effective in clearing up skin blemishes. However, you can get this potato benefits only if you consume potato as raw food because these powerful minerals are converted to inorganic atoms when potatoes are cooked. And, the best way to consume it raw is by taking it as juice. Fresh raw undiluted potato-carrot juice is so nutritious. A cup or two of potato-carrot juice a day is a great help to health problems like skin blemishes and high blood pressure.

Antibiotics Not Always Needed

2009-12-06T06:16:00.000-08:00

Two common conditions that afflict women are yeast infections and cystitis (often called urinary tract infections). Cystitis results from bacterial infections. There can be some other causes at times including: medications, radiation or chemotherapy. Yeast infections occur when there is too much accumulation of yeast in moist and warm spots of the body. Too much bacteria can result in yeast infections. Antibiotics being used to treat other infections can also result in yeast related infections.

Vegetable Juices that Could Help You Slim Down

2009-12-01T06:15:00.000-08:00

Excess fat storage is a result of wrong combination of food and excessive eating of fatty and cholesterol-rich foods and consuming large quantities of starches and sugars. Read more after the break...

Now that you know what causes excess fat storage in your body that could lead to obesity, better lessen those foods, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and clean your body not just by taking at least 8 glasses of water daily but by taking in fresh-raw undiluted vegetable juices that I am going to share to you today.

Why not take a cup or two a day of any of the following: carrot, beet and cucumber combination juice, carrot and cabbage combination juice, carrot and spinach combination juice, a plain spinach juice or a plain carrot juice? It is proven by many people that could help you slim down by cleaning your system. Please take note that you have to drink it undiluted.

Strong will to be fit, cleansing, proper diet, exercise and time for relaxation are the main ingredients not just to slim down but to attainment of healthy body.

Top 10 Ways To Impress Her Mom

2009-11-18T05:09:00.000-08:00

No.1 - Just get her a card

The No.1 way to impress her mom on Mother's Day is to keep it simple, and a card is your best bet. It's understated, it's the holiday standard and you really have to screw up a card in order to have it interpreted as you trying too hard or as you not doing enough. Read more after the break...

On the inside, wish her a happy Mother's Day and acknowledge her parenting skills by thanking her for having brought such a beautiful daughter into the world, or acknowledge some other aspect of her life in order to personalize it. If you want to push it, write how you hope her daughter turns out just like her.

No.2 - Take special care of your own mother

Prioritize. Your own mother always comes first.

No mother would be pleased to learn that her daughter's boyfriend went overboard on her while ignoring his own mom, chiefly because of the negative message it can send her, such as that you were so preoccupied with impressing her that you choked on your own mom; or, if this is how you treat your own mother, you may not be the right guy for her daughter.

In the introduction we mentioned transparency: Throwing your own mom under the bus for her mom will be seen for exactly what it is.

No.3 - Acknowledge your girlfriend

When push comes to shove, her mother doesn't care about flowers, salons or other gentlemanly gestures; your girlfriend's mom is really only concerned with how you treat her daughter. Mother's Day is one day out of 365; stepping up to the plate to play hero one day out of the year will not necessarily impress. Let her mom know how much you appreciate your girl all the time and try to incorporate your girlfriend into any Mother's Day plans you might have, even though she's not a mother yet.

No.4 - Take the day's burden off her hands

Another way to impress her mom on Mother's Day is to help free up her day so she can go off and do whatever she wants.

Everyone wishes there were more hours in the day, and everyone could use an extra hand sometimes. Why not give your girl's mom the whole day to herself, and do the grocery shopping, or take the car to the shop or whatever other errand she might have to run. Then give them a chance to catch up on mother-daughter time. Your generosity with your time will mean a lot to her if she's a busy woman herself.

No.5 - Reunite her with an old friend

Find out if your girlfriend's mom has an old friend she's lost touch with over the years. Make certain that the two don't have bad blood by probing your girl, and set about tracking down that friend. Social networking sites are a good place to start, as well as other family members. Playing private eye might seem like a good idea, but you don't want to come off as a stalker to her mom or the long-lost friend so be careful how you go about this one.

Once you've tracked down the old acquaintance in a non-creepy way, introduce yourself and try to arrange for this person to call your girlfriend's mom on Mother's Day.

No.6 - Arrange a trip to the salon

By a trip to the salon we mean a pampered, mani-pedi kind of thing, something she can enjoy with her daughter and possibly your own mother as well. However, this entry isn't strictly suggesting that; rather, it's suggesting that you arrange a day trip that you know she would enjoy, whether it's to the salon, the wine country or to the 1980s hair metal festival in town for the weekend.

There's no one-size-fits-all idea. And no mother would want to be remembered that way on Mother's Day.

No.7 - Plan a girls' night out

Another way to impress her mom on Mother's Day is by giving her a short break from being a mom -- on a day other than Mother's Day.

Coordinate with a couple of her friends to plan a girls night out, a night on the weekend when she can have a drink, catch up with her friends, and for a few precious hours, not have to be a mom.

No.8 - Cook brunch for her

Cooking a Mother's Day brunch is one of the more ambitious suggestions we have for ways to impress her mom, and we only recommend it if, of course, you know what you're doing. An afternoon of bungled recipes and burned offerings won't be seen as funny or charming -- just a waste of a day.

We wouldn't include such a suggestion if we weren't aware of it actually having worked. However, it might be important to spread the gesture around a bit; invite your mother (and your girl) as well as dad and family. Don't independently monopolize this woman's time; make it a group effort.

No.9 - Get her a personalized gift

A "Happy Mother's Day" CD of her favorite songs, a DVD set; something personalized like this could prove to be a thoughtful Mother's Day gift, as it can show that you've listened to her in the past and know her interests.

Granted, you may be walking a fine line when you try to find her a personalized Mother's Day gift, but each relationship is different; if you know that she would appreciate it, don't hesitate.

No.10 - Do something handy that she needs or wants done

It's not uncommon in a household for there to be some task or job that her mom has wanted completed for a long time, but one that her dad hasn't gotten around to yet. Find out if such a thing exists in their household; it can't hurt to ask.

It can hurt, however, if you don't include dad -- whether by coordinating with him or just consulting him on the matter. Would you, as a father in your own home, want to be subverted and made to look bad by your daughter's boyfriend? Of course not, so go to him before you wash the car, mow the lawn or fix the fence.

On the other hand, if there is no father figure in the house you are suddenly the savior and have free reign to fix and update whatever her mom has been wishing would be fixed.

Tips How To Build Trust

2009-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Trust is so fragile that is hard to put back to its original state when broken. My simple tips how to build trust is dedicated to kids and their parents as well.

Tips How To Build Trust:

Never tell a lie, always tell the truth. And, say it kindly and tactfully.
Be real, do not act like somebody you are not.
Do not gossip about other people’s life. The one you are talking to may think you are gossiping her at her back. The worst scene is – if she pass what you said to other people too.
Never betray a confidence. Do not tell the secrets confided to you.
Keep all the promises you made. If you cannot keep a promise, better not to promise at all.
When you borrow something, always return it as soon as possible.

Importance of Vitamin C

2009-10-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

Vitamin C is really important to your family health if you want to boost your immune system especially now that Influenza A (H1N1) is threatening everybody’s health, better eat vitamin C-rich foods everyday. Vitamin C reduces blood pressure, has the ability to reduce the severity of colds and could protect you against cataract and certain cancers too.
Red and green bell peppers, strawberries, citrus fruits, raw tomatoes, cantaloupe and broccoli are food that are rich in vitamin C. Garlic contains vitamin C too. On a book about health benefit of garlic, a professor of School Tropical Medicine from Calcutta, India revealed that vitamin C act like insulin in the body, it helps metabolize carbohydrates. Not only that, several researchers showed that vitamin C serves as great therapeutic measure in case of ulcers. Wow… what a revelation, right?

The Importance of Open Communication

2009-10-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

Open communication is vital in every relationship. Having an open communication between parents and children is one of the best thing in life. Sharing feelings, thoughts and ideas binds them more, strengthens their love and widens understanding though they are apart. It is not too late yet if you are not used to it, you could start practicing good communication with your loved ones today. And, if you are consistent to it definitely everything will follow. Read more after the break...

Parents plans and do everything that is best for their children. So, even if they do not ask their children to return the favor for all their cares, their children usually thinks what is best for their parents especially by the time that they are no longer staying with their parents and cannot immediately respond to their parents needs as much as they love to. Elderly care topics like finding the right nursing home or in-home health care and other relevant topics for elderly needs could easily be tackled to parents though they are still on their productive and active age if there is an open communication between parents and children.

Having a great relationship and good communication with your parents with the assurance of your care though you will be miles apart in the future and opening the elderly care topics with them as early as possible will open their minds and let them understand better of their future needs. They could even help you choose of the right facilities for their future needs like nursing homes that offers great nursing home services.

To find a nursing home or a great facility that they could feel at home with while all their needs are being catered is a great achievement not just to children but to the seniors as well. If your parents sense that you care and love them and your plans is for their best, for them to live a healthy, happy and longer lives, these will act as their motivators to be on state that you want them to be and, will love and understand you more. Open communication between children and parents especially when parents are on their senior years is much more needed than any other stages in life, hope everyone will understand its importance.

The Importance of Good Night Sleep

2009-10-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

How was your sleep last night? I have heard that sleep number bed gives more comfort than the usual bed we use at home thus, producing a good night sleep. Good night sleep is as important as good nutrition and exercise to attain wellness. Sleep helps our body establish regular bio-rhythms that could lessen cancer risk and normalizes hormone metabolism.
Did you know that by the time we are on our deep sleep all the things we learned during the day that was stored on our short term memory bank (hippocampus) is transferred to its permanent storage site (neocortex)? Thus, making sleep so important to our learning process. Lack of sleep will not just result to poor memory retention but poor accuracy and precision in work and some health problems as well. So, why settle for less effective bed if we have a choice to avail a bed that could give us a maximum comfort?

The Bad Effects of Anger

2009-10-09T03:50:00.000-07:00

Have you been angry? Good for you if you have not experienced such state. Anger is unpredictable, it could blow out its ferocity little at a time or just ones with a big blow.
Anger is common among people who live through less ideal home life. Dealing with it that has develop over a lifetime of pain and frustration is like trying to hold the lid of pressure cooker. The longer such enduring anger linger,the more the chance that it will overflow into other relationships, that may result to conflicts, rejection or hostility.
Person who is experiencing it may express their anger by hitting or yelling, or by rebelling or refusing to speak. What can we do to help people experiencing it? Let us help them realize that talking the anger is much better than doing it. They really need someone to talk to, who will listen them for them to pour out their feelings, they need counselor for it.
This is what I learned from my own experience on harboring anger. Not just that, anger could cause insomnia, heartaches, hyperacidity , hormonal imbalance and other physical ailments due to emotional stress. I have taken some prescription drugs for the physical ailments I have experienced but there was no complete healing on it. Forgiveness in my heart has been the best drug to it.

Stress Test and Stress Management Tips

2009-10-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

Stress test and stress management tips? That is what I want to share to you today. For a simple stress test just follow two steps. First, be aware and check your breathing every now and then during the day. If you feel it was shallow, you are tensed; if it seems labored you are exhausted; and if you are breathing evenly, that is good news because it just means you are feeling good and relaxed. Second, listen to your body. Most of us know if our body is reacting to stress – stomach hurts, you suddenly feel headache or become irritable, and, or your neck tensed up. So simple stress test, right? It was meant to be simple for you to easily check if you are under stress so you can quickly take steps to deal with the stressful situations and be more religious to your stress management. Read more after the break...
Here are my simple stress management tips for you:
Always find time for exercise or some vigorous physical activities at least 30 minutes a day. Exercise release anti-stress hormone from the brain.

Take some time to relax.If you have given some time to face stressful situation then you need to follow it with time for relaxation. For those who have sedentary jobs and feel exhausted from mental fatigue, sports like swimming, volleyball, badminton, tennis and other sports that requires you to be on a group is the best anti-mental exhaustion reliever. Family exercise is the best example for it. Then, bored your mind into relaxation. Sit down then close your eyes and do nothing. Few minutes from doing this, you will be on relaxation state.
Meditation or repeating a focus word is a great way of relaxation too. Find a quiet place, sit down, close your eyes then relax your muscles. Keep your breathing slow and natural then concentrate on it. Discard stray thoughts that comes into your mind. Start repeating a focus word or phrase with each relaxation.
Find some ways to slow down. Get up 30 minutes early for you to have extra time to sit and read the paper or an inspirational book before leaving for work. Then, when you get to your job, take some time to sit in the car for an extra two minutes to prepare yourself for the day’s work.
Share and experience love daily. It is not enough that you know you love your family, friends and co-workers. Show it to them by sweet smile, touch and some caring acts. This actions will come right back to you.
It will be a great pleasure for me if you take some time to share some stress test and stress management tips you know on comment section.

How to Boost Your Energy Level

2009-09-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

Have you experience waking up from an 8-hour sleep finding yourself still feeling tired and sluggish and want to crawl back to bed? Alteration of your brain chemistry is the cause why you feel fatigue. There are lots of factors that triggers why we feel fatigue. Poor eating habit, wrong choice of food, taking of caffeinated products, fond of consuming sugar-laced food and beverages, consumption of salty foods, alcohol, cigarettes, lack of exercise, poor sleeping habits and lack of rest not just on physical aspect but on mental, emotional and spiritual aspects as well.
If automobiles needs gasoline for energy, our body uses blood sugar or glucose as source of energy. Can we take any kind of sugar just to boost our energy level or caffeinated products to keep us alert the whole day? Yes, it is true that caffeine and all kinds of sugar could energized your body that is why there are lots of ‘instant energy’ food and drinks in the market. Those products could cause your blood sugar to shoot up, minutes after you have taken them, giving you burst of energy. But, it is just good for few hours, as soon as your sugar level goes down, it could cause fatigue that is much more terrible than your original state. The tendency? You’ll consume another instant energy drink or food again to keep you going.
The greatest remedy to your fatigue? Say NO to caffeinated food and drinks and refined sugars. Eat a balance diet at regular times, find time for exercise, eliminate salty foods, alcohol and cigarette, have time for rest and relaxation and have a good night sleep. Instead of taking caffeinated food and drinks and food rich in refined sugar to boost your energy level, why not take COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES instead? With it your blood sugar will just increase gradually, on its natural speed, without provoking the INSULIN resulting to longer lasting energy level. Insulin is responsible of lowering our blood sugar level. Refined carbohydrate products and caffeine shoot up your blood sugar in just few minute (not the normal speed of energizing your body) that provokes your insulin to lower it immediately.
Eating food rich in complex carbohydrates along with small amount of protein could boost your energy level, could help you feel motivated and react more rapidly to stimuli. Protein is known in sustaining alertness that’s why by the power of this two nutrient group (complex carbohydrates and protein) you’ll be able to enjoy long lasting energy level.

How To Become A Good Listener

2009-09-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

Who wants to become a good listener? Listening is a powerful tool of communication. Listening and just hearing has great difference. All of us wants to have a companion who is a good listener and most of us aim to be one as well. When you assess yourself now, what kind of listener are you? A deep careful listener, a bored listener, a selective listener, a defensive listener, an interruptive listener or an insensitive listener? Do you want to know some tips how to become a good listener? If so, here are my simple tips for you:

Follow the golden rule:

“Do unto others what you want others do unto you.” Put yourself on the position of the one who is speaking to you. Make an effort to listen to the person who is speaking by giving your full attention to the speaker. Focus your mind to what he is trying to say and for the unspoken messages. Watch for the non-verbal communication like tone of voice, hand gestures, facial expressions and other body movements. Listen for the real meaning and not just for the literal words. Finish listening first before you begin to speak for you to be sure that you understand what is being said and think clearly what to react. Ask questions if you are not sure, to understand what the speaker is trying to convey. Good listening requires practice and patience. But, if you hone this skill you’ll appreciate life more.

Health Benefits of Vitamin B6

2009-09-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Instead of asking what are the health benefits of vitamin B6, why not ask first how important is vitamin B6 to our body? Our body needs vitamin B6 or pyridoxine for production of red blood cells in keeping our nervous system healthy for it to work properly and in helping our body to use the proteins, carbohydrates and fats we consume. Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine is essential in converting amino acid trytophan to niacin (another form of vitamin B). It also helps our body fight against diseases by strengthening our immune system.
Deficiency from vitamin B6 or pyridoxine may result to weakness, irritability, insomnia, anemia, nervousness, difficulty in walking or even convulsions. Alcoholics, those with genetic defect that prevent their body from using right amount of vitamin B6 and some elderly are the people who is at risk from vitamin B6 or pyridoxine deficiency.
And, what are the other health benefits of vitamin B6 or pyridoxine? It has potential power in treating premenstrual syndrome or PMS and carpal tunnel syndrome. Taking vitamin B6 lessens the harmful effects of diabetes, and has promising effect of eliminating calcium oxalate crystals (one type of kidney stone) in the urine. Some suggests that it helps in preventing cardiovascular diseases. vitamin B6 or pyridoxine also inhibits the growth of skin cancer cells.
You can find vitamin B6 or pyridoxine in meats, poultry, fish, nuts, whole grains, potatoes, avocados and bananas.

Great Juice For Diabetics

2009-09-09T05:28:00.000-07:00

How come I came to know the great juice for those who are suffering from diabetes or high blood sugar level? Here in our house we usually only take fresh fruit or vegetable juice as our dinner. And, for us to have variety of juices, we searched for great combination of vegetables in which we found out that it could also cure diseases. But, just like medicines, you have to have faith that it could help you in your condition and take it in moderation as well.
All you need to have is a quality made extractor and a measuring instrument for the extracted juice.You should take this in an empty stomach too(it means at least 2 hours after meal and at least 1 hour before meal) for great absorption of juice in your digestive system. Here are the great vegetable combinations for those who are suffering from HIGH BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL or DIABETES:
Note: These vegetable combinations and measurements are based on the booktitle: FRESH VEGETABLE AND FRUIT JUICESsubtitle: what’s missing in your body?formerly titled: Raw vegetable Juicesauthor: N. W. Walker

Tips to Keep Your Feet Fit

2009-09-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

The stronger your feet the better is your chance to keep your feet away from health problems. Here are some great exercises to keep your feet fit. This is really good if your feet tires easily. These simple movements will strengthen your feet muscles. You can even teach small kids this of simple feet exercises on your bonding time. Definitely, they would love to execute this simple feet exercises.
Note: Perform these movements very slowly and feel your feet muscles move.
Read more after the break...

Exercise your ankles:
Sit on a chair and cross your left leg over the right Rotate the foot of your top leg (left leg). Point your toes down, towards the inside of your ankle, up, then towards the outside of your ankle. Rotate your foot on that direction for 12 to 15 times then do it on a reverse direction for 12 to 15 times as well. Switch legs (right leg this time). Do the same procedure. Strengthen your calf and heal muscles:
Sit on the floor with your legs straight to the front. Bend your feet towards you as far as possible. Strengthen your toes and muscles on top of the foot:
Sit on a chair with your bare feet on the floor. Try to pick up things like towels, pencils and, or other things that could be pick up by your toes. Do not forget to include walking as exercise to keep your feet in good shape. It is not just good for your feet but to your health in general.

Effect of Color on Behavior

2009-08-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

Are you planning to repaint your house? Psychologists believes that colors has effect on behavior. According to Maria Simonson, Ph.D., Sc.D., a behaviorist, the color you pick for a room will have some sort of effect on its occupants. In fact, it has been found out that kids learn better in brightly colored rooms.
So, if you want to have a relaxing dinning room and you are staying in cool climates, better paint your dining room with off-white, tan, pale gold or beige color. And, if you are staying in a warmer climate, better paint your it with cool blue or green color. But, if you want your family’s appetite especially kids’ appetite to be stimulated better paint it with warm colors like yellow, orange or red.
If you want to have a good night sleep or an optimal sleeping conditions, pale pink, mauve and lavender colors are great for cooler climates. Pale blue, pale green and beige are good relaxing colors for those with hot climates. If you are suffering from lack of sleep, why not repaint your room?
Color your rooms to make it more homey to the occupants than just an ordinary room because color could greatly affect one’s behavior.

How to Drink More Water Every Day

2009-02-24T01:07:00.000-08:00

Water is the most needed chemical compound of our body. Without the daily necessary amount of water our body functions would be forced to shut down. The human body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water depending on body size. To function properly, the body requires between one and seven liters of water per day to avoid dehydration; the precise amount depends on the level of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Most of this is ingested through foods or beverages other than drinking straight water. It is not clear how much water intake is needed by healthy people, though most advocates agree that 6–7 glasses of water (approximately 2 litres) daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration. Medical literature favors a lower consumption, typically 1 liter of water for an average male, excluding extra requirements due to fluid loss from exercise or warm weather. For those who have healthy kidneys, it is rather difficult to drink too much water, but (especially in warm humid weather and while exercising) it is dangerous to drink too little. People can drink far more water than necessary while exercising, however, putting them at risk of water intoxication (hyperhydration), which can be fatal. The "fact" that a person should consume eight glasses of water per day cannot be traced back to a scientific source. There are other myths such as the effect of water on weight loss and constipation that have been dispelled. Read more after the break...

Determine how much water you need. You've probably heard the "8 by 8" rule - drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (2 quarts, 1.8 liters) - but the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight and activity level. Another way to determine your specific recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., strive to drink 75 ounces of water daily. For those who use the Metric system, divide your weight (in kilograms) by 30 (ex. somebody weighing 70 kg is going to need 2.3 liters per day). Keep in mind that these recommended intake numbers are controversial and some experts believe they are a gross exaggeration. See "warnings" below for more information.

Signs of Dehydration. You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeine pills and alcohol result in the need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than we need. Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles,lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B Vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.

Dangers of Too Much Water. Don't start drinking an extra gallon of water a day - that can kill you, especially if you are fasting or eating very little. Water taken in must be in balance with body salt - electrolytes. The body needs to maintain salt balance or risk hyponatremia with heart attack and even death. Drinking too much water dilutes the salt in your blood and tissues - and can kill you. Healthy athletes have died from drinking too much plain water and not replacing salt. Dieters should not plunge into drinking gallons of water a day in hopes of burning a few more calories. Drink an extra few glasses, yes. But a gallon is too much.

Chronic Back Pain and Some great Ideas

2009-02-09T05:38:00.000-08:00

If a pain recurs and lasts for more than three to four months, it is a chronic back pain. Generally, back pain is obvious. Our spine is the centre point of major bundles of nerves and hence, pains are common in this area even by a slight twist or bend during the normal course. A normal pain subsides in itself. However, if the pain does not subside for a long time and when it gets stimulated with every small movement, it means that the pain is chronic and needs immediate attention. Now let us see how to deal with chronic backaches successfully.

What To Do When Confronted With Back Attacks?

Unlike common backaches, severe pains are more serious and definitely need to be treated under the supervision of an experienced doctor. Nevertheless, if it is very difficult to bear the pain till you visit your doctor, you should know how to deal with such situations. People suffering from severe backache usually find it difficult to sleep. Improper sleep will only add more stress to the backache. Hence, the right way to sleep during back pains putting least stress on the spine is to sleep on your side with your knees bending at a 90-degree angle, or to sleep on your back by placing a pillow beneath your knees. You can try some anti-inflammatory medicines to get some temporary relief from the pain. However, all these techniques are only for managing the situation temporarily and for a permanent cure of a backache, you should immediately consult your doctor. Read more after the break...

Magnetic Therapy - A Best Remedy For Chronic Pains

Magnetic therapy is a kind of treatment in which a magnetic pad is provided to the patient to place it at the area of pain in order to gain relief. These pads are also recommended to be used as mattresses and by sleeping on them; the patient can get permanent relief from his backpain. Usually during an injury, the affected area gets inflamed and it creates an imbalance at the cellular level in its sodium and potassium ion concentrations. Hence, magnetic therapy helps to rebalance the electromagnetic ion concentrations efficiently, thus healing the condition more speedily and effectively. It not only restores mobility but also enhances flexibility and minimizes the chances of muscle spasms.

The above stated tips are some of the common tips to cope with your severe backache problems. However, the most important thing that people suffering from back pains should know is to avoid lengthy bed rests. Although bed rest is important, it should be minimized or avoided as far as possible. Bed rest only delays the rehabilitation process. However, you can do some simple exercises without injuring your back and strengthen your back muscles to speed up the chronic back pain healing process.

Be it a lower or a severe upper back pain, if it does not subside and persists, it can be a chronic back pain. Know from here what a magnetic therapy is and how useful is it in dealing with severe back pain and what makes it the best back pain cure in chronic ailments. For more information visit severe back pain.

Source : Via

Abdominal Muscle Exercises

2009-01-23T19:50:00.000-08:00

As a personal trainer, I get asked this question at least once a day, "Which the best exercises to get firm, flat and toned abdominals?" It's not an easy question to address, since there are hundreds of abdominal exercises.
Let's face it. Our eyes gravitate towards a flat and well toned abdominal region. We all want that elusive flat, firm and enviable look of 'washboard abs'. The muscles of your abdominal region, and indeed the midsection aren't isolated; they weave through your torso like a web of high-tensile steel, and it's critical to train them the right way.
So how do you get results fast? A recent study by the American Council on Exercise has the answer. Let's discover the 3 most effective exercises to get flat abdominals, the correct way to breathe during abdominal exercises and tips and tricks to get results faster. I have integrated these exercises to help thousands of clients get results. You can view my clients in action with exercise videos and download full color abdominal exercise routines, diet plans and ebooks by registering on my websites mentioned at the end of this article.
Read more after the break...
A California study conducted by the American Council on Exercise has determined that the classic sit-up is not the best answer for stronger, flatter abdominals. The conclusions were intriguing, to say the least. The traditional sit-up was among the least effective abdominal muscle exercises.
Sit-ups (in which you raise your trunk up from the floor with your knees straight or bent) involve the hip muscles disproportionately relative to the abdominals. This means the hip muscles work more and the abdominal muscles work less i.e they are not getting trained in the right manner. In addition, there is an unnecessary (and potentially harmful) strain on the lower back. The sit-up is not only ineffective, but potentially harmful.
There's more, and it's equally surprising. The study indicated that several gadgets for the abdominals were either ineffective or marginally more effective than a regular abdominal crunch, which doesn't cost you anything, other than the time required to learn the right technique.
Now for the big news. The top three abdominal muscle exercises were:
The Bicycle maneuver.The Captains Chair.Crunch on an exercise ball.
For best results.
Start with 2-3 sets of each exercise, 8-10 repetitions. Increase by 8-10 repetitions each week till you work your way up to a set of 40 repetitions in each set. 2 sets of 35-40 repetitions a day for the abdominals is ideal, and you do not need to train more than that.
Breathing during abdominal muscle exercises.
With all abdominal muscle exercises, exhale as you contract / exert / come up / crunch your abdominals; inhale as you relax / lower / return to the starting position.
Points to remember.
1. If you have lower back injuries or pain, consult a doctor before you begin, so you don't hurt yourself. Also see a physician if you are over 35, have been sedentary for a long time, have high blood pressure and/or cholesterol, are a smoker, have chest pains or shortness of breath or have had a joint or muscle injury.

2. It's not the number of repetitions, but the quality and technique that gets results. Overdoing sit-ups can hurt your lower back. Besides, the best way to get those flat lower abdominal muscles is to be patient for 8-10 weeks, eat a healthy diet and do regular aerobic exercise.

Hair Loss - Simple Steps

2009-01-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

If you are experiencing hair loss it is important you act now and not wait until it becomes noticeable and start to affect the way you look and feel about yourself. Whether you are a male or female, few things will affect confidence and esteem like a noticeably balding head.
Going bald will make you look, feel and actually act older. Your personality and attitude will change to reflect your dampened ego. You will become less outgoing and less apt to approach members of the opposite sex. Your going bald can dictate the way you are seen and treated by others and yourself.
I know, for at the tender age of 21 I started rapidly loosing my hair and all those negative changes started to happen in my life. It was sheer determination and the dread of looking like my old grand dad this early that turned things around for me.
If you are experiencing hair loss, here are some things I learned that helped me with my battle to stop from going bald and retake control of my life.
Read more after the break...

1. Check with your doctor.Sometimes hair loss can be a symptom of disease. Thyroid disease, Lupus and Diabetes are two examples of illnesses known to case balding. Check with your doctor and be sure there is not a more serious matter at hand.

2. Watch your diet.Eating correctly will affect not only the overall health of your body, it will also affect the health of your hair and scalp. Maintaining a proper diet is critical for keeping healthy locks.

3. Check your stress levels.Anxiety and stress are common causes of hair loss. Regardless of how hectic life may get, you should take every necessary step to reduce tension and limit its affect on your body. If you must, use yoga, meditation or some other form of stress reduction technique.

4. Careful what you use on your head.Many of todays' hair care products contain chemicals that are harsh and can actually be damaging. Check the ingredients of your shampoos, dyes, perms and conditioners. Choose products that substitute chemicals with natural substances that are milder and which stimulate the scalp and encourage growth.

These few tips will go far in avoiding further hair loss and may even reverse the process. Do your research and take all necessary steps. Going bald can be painful but there are many products on the market that will help. Just know that the issue can be successfully addressed and the earlier you act the better.

Don't wait until it's too far gone. There are products that can immediately stop hair loss and quickly re grow your hair.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_J_Fisher

Weight Loss Just By Drinking Water

2008-12-24T01:12:00.000-08:00

Make A Successful Weight Loss Just By Drinking Water - Maybe The Easiest Weight Loss Method

Well, you may have heard it before - you can lose weight just by drinking pure plain water. Do you think it is like that? Yes, it is, you can lose weight just by drinking water. I will explain why it is so.
There are studies that show that just by drinking water your metabolism will increase with up to 30 percentages. That is quite impressive, isn't it? To make your weight loss possible you need to drink eight glasses of water every day, and if you have lots of overweight you need to drink a few glasses more. If you live in a warm climate or if you exercise very intensive you need to drink more than the eight glasses. You maybe think that eight glasses is much water to drink, but you shouldn't drink it at the same time; instead you need to spread it out throughout the day. Read more after the break...

Drinking water is not only great for your weight loss. Just by drinking lots of water you will look better because and your skin will become more glowing. Your muscles will work more effective when you exercise which will lead to a better shaped body.
A few tips about how you should act when you decide to lose weight just by drinking water:

Start every morning with a glass of water.
Drink a glass of water before every meal.
Drink lukewarm water, it may be easier to drink lots of water when it isn't cold.
Add a slice of lemon if you don't like the taste of the water.
Avoid drinking just before you go to bed.

Drinking water is a cheap and very effective way to lose weight, but often you need to add some diet and exercise to make your weight loss effective.

By Jane Olsson

My 15 Days to Fitness

2008-12-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and decided..it was time. I have been neglected myself and my fitness goals for over a month now. I have been so wrapped up in all my businesses and my online product, I have really let myself go. But I made the decision, NO MORE! I need to come first, I DESERVE to come first and now is the time.

There are 15 days until Christmas and I am setting some goals and be very specific.

1. I will track all my meals on sparkspeople and will plan my meals the night before OR at least post my meals on my blog.
2. I will keep my calories above 1600 calories every day.
3. I will do 2 days of intervals on the treadmill, 2 days of boot camp and 2 days of my own strength training routine each week.
4. I will only allow myself a cheat meal after I have eaten 100% clean for 4 days!
5. I will not let my work get in the way of my meals or workouts.
6. I will achieve 18.5% body fat by Christmas!
Read more after the break...
When I reach this goal of 18.5% body fat, I will reward myself with an hour long massage! (This is the most important!!!)
Do you want to join me? What better way to stay motivated than setting some specific goals, and giving your self a reward! I hope that you will all join me! Feel free to join WDF Forums, where you can keep your own blog and get the support of others! Click HERE to join!

Via: Link

Cardio For Six Pack Abs

2008-12-09T05:59:00.000-08:00

Cardiovascular training or cardio as we know it, is an aerobic solution that allows for more oxygen to be pumped through your body and hence burn more energy, muscle or fat. Latest research suggests that if you want six pack abdominals and a physique like a 100 meter sprinter, then less is actually more. So whats the best cardio for a six pack.

H.I.T.T. - High Intensity Interval Training.

What is it? Well it basically makes you work slightly harder with less time. So forget about the age old notion of spending hours on the treadmill. All you really need is 20 minutes, at a varied pace. Here is why, new research has found that long state steady cardio can actually start burning muscle for energy. Now, muscle is your fat burner, yes, the more lean muscle you have the higher your metabolism. So why would you want to burn your muscles?
On the other hand HITT is anaerobic, like weight training, as the intensity is varied. After a resistance training session your metabolism is continually raised as it tries to repair your body. Enter Interval Training, which is exactly the same. After slow and boring low intensity cardio your metabolism returns to normal, however with HITT your body's' metabolism is raised for up to the next 24 hours, sometimes up to 48 hours! So train with Intensity.
Read more after the break...
So when it comes to cardio for a six pack, next time your at the gym on your chosen cardio machine or going for a jog...try this.

For the next 20 minutes -

Warm up for 4 minutes.
Run at 8.0 kmh for 1 minute (your level 6-7)
Walk or slow jog at 5-6 kmh for 2 minutes (your level 5)
Run at 9.0 kmh for 1 minute (your level 7-8)
Walk or slow jog at 5-6 kmh for 2 minutes (your level 5)
Run at 10.0 kmh for 1 minute (your level 8-9)
Walk or slow jog at 5-6 kmh for 2 minutes (your level 5)
Run at 11.0 kmh for 1 minute (your level 9-10)
Walk or slow jog at 5-6 kmh for 2 minutes (your level 5)
Cool down for 4 minutes.

Above is a hill style of HITT training. There are many more. I will finish asking you a question when it comes to cardio for six pack abs. Would you prefer to look like a marathon sprinter who runs at a constant steady pace for a long period of time or would you like to look like a muscular 100m sprinter?

Start stripping that fat and seeing your abs today!
Roger Ruzzier is a Certified Personal Trainer and Life Coach with expertise in weight loss. Start to strip that fat and build the body of your dreams today at RogerRuzzier.com/bodysuccess
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Change your eating Habits and loose weights

2008-12-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

Do easy ways to lose weight exist? Everyone knows that diet, lowering caloric intake, and exercise, increasing the number of calories you burn, combine into a formula for losing weight. But sticking to the diet is the hard part. It won’t be easy, but with a little work it sure is easier. Here are some tips to make it easier. Keep a daily log of everything that passes your lips. Writing down everything you eat and drink, even water, will help you eat less. Studies show that people who keep track of what they eat end up eating 15% less. That’s significant. On average Americans consume 245 calories a day from drinks. Switch from juice, soda, and other calorie drinks to water. 245 calories a day is nearly 90,000 calories in the course of a year. That’s 25 pounds. Water isn’t that bad, is it? Keep in mind too that juice and soda don’t trigger a feeling of fullness, despite their calories. Eat five or six smaller meals a day instead of three large meals a day. Eating more meals with smaller portions results in eating 30% fewer calories. Furthermore, even the same number of calories eaten in smaller portions during more frequent meals can result in weight loss. You’re less likely to binge because the body releases less insulin. Make sure your wardrobe only includes the ’skinny’ clothes. If you don’t have clothes that are comfortable when you’re heavier, you’re more likely to be reminded to keep slim every time you dress. Read more after the break...

And if you have to purchase a whole new wardrobe you’re less likely to gain weight. Use smaller plates. It’s proven that people eat what’s in front of them. Use the salad plates instead of dinner plates. Similar to the idea of using smaller plates, serve your food on the plate rather than in bowls on the table. When the plate is empty the meal is over, instead of spooning another portion onto your plate. Don’t eat white bread, sugar or white rice. Those foods are loaded with carbohydrates which lead to higher blood sugar and weight gain. Do eat whole grain breads and brown rice. Don’t be concerned with the sugar, pretty soon you won’t miss it. Weight loss isn’t easy, but relatively speaking there are easy ways to lose weight. Don’t think it won’t take a little work. If weight loss were easy everyone would be slim all the time.

Tips to get whiter teeth

2008-11-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

First impressions make a huge difference, and a great smile can give you the confidence you need to smile with pride. While everyone wants a bright and white smile, but aren’t sure how to achieve it. To help you get the pearly whites you’ve always dreamed of, please enjoy the following list of simple tips to get whiter teeth.

Eating Habits A lot of foods have staining properties that will, over time, affect the whiteness of your teeth. Foods like berries, soy sauce, and curry are all dark foods that can stain your teeth. You don’t need to give up any of these foods however, simply remember to brush your teeth after each meal or snack. Also, the more raw and natural foods you eat, the better. Fast food and chemical-based processed foods are much more likely to leave stains.
Read More after the break...
Drinking Habits Coffee, soda, wine and tea also contribute to yellowed teeth. Not only do they satin, but hot and cold temperatures also make your teeth more vulnerable to stains, making hot coffee that much worse. Like with food, brush after drinking staining substances, but not directly after wards or you could wear down tooth enamel.
Natural Solutions It may come as a surprise, but many fruits have natural whitening properties when used correctly. You can mash up some strawberries and put them on your brush with toothpaste, or just rub on to the teeth, Leave on for five minutes, then rinse off. Another whitening fruit is orange peels. Rub orange peels on the teeth, and rinse. You can also try orange peel, bay leaves, and toothpaste finely mixed.
Baking Soda It’s widely know that baking soda can whiten teeth and can be found in many toothpastes already. You can also make your own baking soda whitener by mixing baking soda with salt or by simply adding a small amount of baking soda to your toothbrush before the paste.
Smoking Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco damage and yellow your teeth in immense amounts. If you’re a smoker or chewer and want whiter teeth, start by cutting down on your tobacco habits as much as possible. Even the smallest cut down will help you have whiter, brighter teeth.
Fluoride Some waters and even toothpastes contain fluoride, which has been discovered to yellow teeth. Check toothpaste and water bottles for fluoride before purchasing to avoid accidentally darkening your teeth.
Water Drink as much water as possible throughout your day. This will rinse any remaining food or substance from your teeth and lead to overall whiter teeth and improved oral health. Drinking plenty of water is good for the rest of your body too, and added bonus!
Dental Care This should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many people complain about yellow teeth that don’t even brush regularly. Both flossing and brushing 2-3 times a day at least is the best white to maintain a bright and healthy smile.
Home-Cleaning Kits There are a lot of teeth whitening kits on the market to choose from, but few of them are right for everyone or even healthy to use. Before deciding to purchase one of these kits, do thorough research on which is best for you. Some of them may do harm than help, and leave you in pain and unsatisfied.
Routine Cleaning Last but not least, see the dentist as often as possible for a check-up and cleaning. No one can get your teeth cleaner than the dentist, and they can give you new and useful tips on how to maintain whiter teeth in healthy ways. Most dentists also offer teeth whitening services, which are guaranteed to be safe, healthy and effective.

A Look on Diet Fitness

2008-10-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Many people nowadays are very much conscious about their own health and fitness. In addition to that, these people, and many others as well, are now having that desire to sculpt their bodies to ahieve that magazine-cover look. As a result, gyms, health spas and other fitness centers have proliferated all over to cater to the needs of the fitness buffs and afficionados.Even on television exercise machines, weight loss products, and other paraphernalia to improve fitness have more or less gained control over the airwaves and made their way into the households. But exerise is not the only way to build that body beautiful. It also entails certain amount of responsibility on the foods one chooses to eat. Being healthy and fit requires one to observe diet fitness.Diet fitness is as essential as exercise itself. Diet for fitness provides the essential nutrition one needs to restore worn-out muscles and for healthy growth. Diet fitness should never be taken for granted. With the popularity of keeping fit, many different views, methods, programs and dieting strategies have been formulated by many professionals. Among these are high carb diets and high fat diets. Whih one is more effective and which one should one choose to follow?First thing to know would be the fundamental differences between these two diet approaches. Read more after the break...
As the name implies, high carb diets concentrates on taking in carbohydrate-rich foods while high fat diets endorses fat-rich foods. High carb diets are utilized to glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Glycogen is a glucose complex that provides large amounts of energy ready for use in anaerobic exercises.Fats, on the other hand, is well-nown for being the richest source of calories. It actually contains 2.5 times more calories than carbohydrates and proteins alike. Studies also show that it takes the body 24 calories to metabolize carbohydrates while it only takes 3 to burn down fat. So which one to follow? A person can follow a high carb and low fat fitness diet or the other way around. It is absolutely not recommended to follow both at the same time; unless of course if you want to gain body fat.But then diet fitness is not all about losing fat, one must also consider his diet in order to keep fat away. Research shows that sustainable loss of weight can only be achieved on a diet which suits the individual food preferences, lifestyle, medical profile and satiety signals.Diet programs all over can help you shed off excess pounds, but only one diet can help you stay sexy, and it is the one that satisfies you most. Other important aspects of having a fit diet are moderation, balance and variation. One must be careful not to leave out important nutrients and other substances necessary for healthy body functioning. health organizations are clear about the amounts of nutrients an individual should have in the body.Low fat high carbs, high carbs low fat; the question is not which diet program will work out but which is it that will work for you. Striving for a sexy and healthy body does not have to burden an individual, diet fitness does not have to mean sticking to the same kind of food for life. One may even try to be adventurous and try out new foods out there. Who knows? one may even discover spinach interesting.

Dark Circles Under Eyes to Turn into Shining Bright Eyes

2008-10-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

Dark circles under eyes immediately start disappearing turning them into shining bright eyes as the eyebrows get raised naturally and lift the eyelids further up and lock them there.
The skin under the eye is thinner than the rest of the skin around. Hence the veins under it give it a blue tinge appearing as dark circles there. Read more after the break

Also the skin under the eye is affected more by the sun tanning.
Rubbing or scratching the eye darkens the skin under the eyes as well.
Medications causing the blood vessels to dilate also pronounce these dark patches.
Lack of nutrition discolors this area too.
Lack of sleep or excessive fatigue turns skin pale and shows these dark patches more.
Pregnancy and menstruation also accentuate the dark under eye circles.
Age sags the skin, drooping the eyelids and generating bags over there. The dark circles start showing even more than before.

But the way we have been going through our previous posts not only lifts-up the drooping eyelids, removes the excess eyelid skin along with the excess fat-tissue, removes dark circles under eyes, and turns back the eyelids that have gone turned-in or turned-out; but also gets a total facelift for you without going for an anti aging eye cream or an anti wrinkle eye cream, or any surgical procedure.
Just open your eyes FULL in their TOTAL WIDTH by putting a slight smile on your lips, and you will have got the two bright eyes on your face!
And then this only is the right way you should always open your eyes in while you are awake.
If you are really interested in and really curious about whatever you are looking at, it automatically happens so.
We do need looking into this interest and curiosity thing further in its depth and we’ll certainly come out with many more pearls of biological wisdom from there.

Tummy Exercise Myths

2008-09-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

Our bodies are genetically conditioned on how we lose or gain weight. Interestingly enough, the first place where we gain weight is the last place where we lose it. We cannot reduce only the part we do not like. Once we lose fat from our body, we lose inches everywhere even where we do not want to lose.

The problem with tummy muscles is that we do not generally exercise this muscle in daily life. It is not greatly challenged from climbing stairs, bending, stretching or walking. We, therefore, have to make a special effort to encourage it to come back into line. The movements have to be small and controlled and depend on the effort put in by the exerciser to get really good results. Secondly during pregnancy, as the baby grows inside the muscle (transverse) is pushed forward. A huge amount of stretching is going on and tends to leave the muscle loose and hanging forward after the birth. It is essentially the lack of strength left in this muscle which allows the tummy to sit in that rather round forward position Mothers would recognise from after birth.
In all cases it is the lack of exercise for this muscle which causes it to become loose and give the 'pot bellied' appearance.

Myth No. 1: By doing some midsection exercises one can reduce 'love handles'. Fact: You cannot reduce fat from a certain targeted area of your body just by using exercise alone. And the abdominal area is no exception. So if you want to get a flat stomach and to reveal your abs, losing the fat covering them is the way to go. And the only way to do this is to lose fat proportionately from your entire body by burning more calories than you consume.

Myth No. 2: You have to do tons of crunches.

Fact: Overuse of crunches will only shorten your abs, pull your head forward and gives you a bad posture. To reduce fat in your bodies, you need to do cardio exercise and eat nutritious foods in reasonable amounts. In simple language 'burn more calories than you consume.' The cardio helps to burn that stored fat and the lower calorie diet forces the body to use the accumulated fat for energy.

In addition, the crunches and a total body workout (with weight training) helps the body to increase muscle mass. Muscles burn fat; fat does not burn itself so, the more muscle we have, the more fat our body uses for energy, so we lose weigh faster. If you only do crunches, you will develop your abdominal muscles and strengthen them. This will reflect in better posture and less back problems, but you will not be able to see your abdominal muscles because they will be covered with fat.

Myth No. 3: Exercise is more important that nutrition.
Fact: Diet is one of the key factor when trying to get a flat tummy. Plan your nutrition in advance, to avoid dietary downfalls. Focus on protein, green vegetables, fiber-rich fruits, and zero calorie drinks such as Green Tea and water. Avoid all sugar.

Myth No. 4: You must do train your tummy every day
Fact:You don't need to do direct tummy training every day. Instead, train them twice per week and use non-conventional exercises such as Mountain Climbers and Stability Ball Jackknives to reduce the stress on your low back. Avoid the overuse of crunches and sit-ups in your training program. Instead, beginners, should focus on abdominal endurance with planks and side planks, and work up to more advanced exercises, but still avoid doing hundreds of crunches lying on your back.
Concentrate on increasing daily incidental activity. Reduce the use of labour saving devices like remote controls etc. Rearrange the house or office environment so that it is physically inefficient making movement mandatory. Try standing or, even better, pacing when chatting on the phone. Park further away from the entrance of a shop, and use the stairs instead of the elevator. ...source: www.womenfitness.net

Some great tips for great Body

2008-08-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

No one have perfect body. Human beings are never satisfied with their features and body. You have to change attitude to see yourself. If you are more confident anf positive then you will feel much relax. There are many problems like dry skin, oily skin.extra weight, you have to cure them but its affecting on your look not on personality. Your body is uniquely yours so you must have to care of yourself. Your mind can keep controls on your body. There are multiple theropy for loosing weight.Tips for Weight Loss :This the very popular and particular issue that women consider. Many of them becomes unsuccessful for loosing their weight completely.Most of them give up after some time. Right attitude will help you achieve your goal weight.Use non-stick pan. It will helpful for using less oil.chew sugar-free gum.Eat your favourate items in limit.Take care of your skin at the time of loosing weight, it is important.Moisture your whole body.Do not use hard skin for your body.Do regular exercise.Take meal on time.Tips for skin careSkin care is most imporatant factor in the body care. Generally women are very aware about there skin. They tries multiple options to take care their skin. Every women wants their skin glowing, clean and fresh.Following are some tips to take care of the skin.When you bathe moisturize your whole body.Eat nutritious food, drink water.Exercise regularly.Use facemsk of egg to remove tan from your skin.Use cucumber cleanser for your body.Mixture of grapes, lemon and egg white is good for oily skin.For dry skin mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil. It is agood moisturiser.Mixture of honey and milk will glow the skin.For dark underarms and neck use lemon juice.For soft skin use red sandal powder and coconut milk.Thin apple slice control oily shine, so rub it on skin.Natural bleach is useful for fair skin.Keep every face pack for 15-20 minutes on your skin.Tips on exercisesExercises are the most important factor when you are going to care of your body.Regular exercise keeps you fit and fresh. It helps to be remain younge.There are also many types of exercises like Yoga, aerobics etc. It will help you to improve your helth and loosing weight. Exercise keeps your muscle tight and firm, thats the reason you look younger. It improves your circulation.Do 20 minutes of exercise three times a weekDo correct exercise, it will maintain your posture.Do Yoga, it will give you better state of mind and relaxation.

By: Rachel Broune

10 ways to learn to love your looks

2008-08-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

Boost Your Beauty Confidence

Study beauty role models: Not to wish you looked like them, but to notice their uniqueness. Think Lauren Hutton’s gap-toothed smile, Andie MacDowell’s tightly-curled hair, Susan Sarandon’s subtle smile lines. Embrace your own unique features.
Splurge on a great haircut: Well-cut hair always looks gorgeous, making you feel that much more beautiful.
Break a bad habit: If you bite your nails, stop. Pick at dry skin? Hands off! Then celebrate your new, good habit with a manicure or a luxe body cream.
Embrace your hair: Wrestling with your tresses usually results in a less-than-pretty outcome. Instead, learn to work with your curls or sleekness, and your hair is guaranteed to look better.
Pare down your makeup: You most likely don’t need foundation, cover-up, cream blush, lip liner, eye liner, eye shadow, contour cream, lip gloss, matte powder…. Instead, limit yourself to the basics and see your skin shine through.
Find your perfect lipstick: One that looks ultra-natural and that brings out your eyes works best (and looks great when you’re wearing no other makeup at all!). Ask a cosmetic salesperson for suggestions.
For one full day, wear no makeup: Be sure it’s a day when you have to venture outside, even if it’s only to go to the drugstore! Note how people treat you just the same when you’re barefaced as when you’re “done.”
Keep your eyebrows groomed: Makeup artists swear that well-kept eyebrows pull your look together, even without any makeup at all.
Get real: It’s okay to admit you’ll never look like Cindy Crawford or Patty Hansen. It’s also okay to be happy about it!
List your life successes: Chances are, they are all things that have nothing to do with your looks. Looks are just one part of your awesome package!

By Lisa Kovalovich

How To Break a Weight Loss Plateau

2008-08-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

No matter how efficient your diet & workout plan, you are bound to face a weight-loss plateau at one point or another. But this does not mean your weight-loss trend has ended, it just means that you need to revise your tactics and fitness routine to overcome the plateau and march ahead! Plateaus are common to anybody who's been on the same diet and exercise plan for a while, which is the reason why you don't see the same results you saw at the beginning. But its not as scary or difficult to break a weight-loss plateau. I've done it myself, and I hope my ideas help you achieve similar results too!

If you've been eating right and exercising often, you've probably been losing weight at a rate of one or two pounds a week. However, as you get closer to your optimum weight, it usually gets harder to lose those last few pounds. You know you've hit a weight-loss plateau when more than two weeks have gone by without any further change in your weight, while you still follow the same regimen! So the first thing you do is review your exercise and diet program, find out what's wrong and make amendments. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started!

Calorie Intake & Diet Plan
As you probably know by now, weight loss is all about burning more calories than you consume. A healthy diet plan is the key, so take a quick look at your food diary, or calorie intake.

Are you still keeping track of your portion sizes, even when you are dining out?
Are you spacing your meals 5 times a day, dividing daily calories between them?
have you recently sneaked in a few desserts or carbs thinking a piece won't hurt much?
Did you switch to sodas instead of smoothies and juices?
Are you drinking enough water?

It's easy to increase your calorie intake accidentally, without realizing how its hurting your diet plan. Remember, a baked potato is not the same as a baked potato with gravy and butter! So evaluate your calorie consumption; maintain a diet hhournal if you like; if you are well above the 1200(for women) or 1500 (for men) daily intake level, you can try cutting down a couple hundred calories to break the plateau. However, if you are consuming less than 1,200 calories a day (1,500 for a man), your body may react by slowing down as a self-preservation measure. This means your metabolism rate falls, and you actually store fat even if you're working out consistently.

Eat 5-6 Times a Day
Eating frequently stabilizes your blood sugar, controls appetite, and keeps your energy up. Ideally, you shouldn't go more than three or four hours without eating something. Doing so slows down your metabolism and makes your body burn fat at a slower rate. Its also very important to eat as soon as you feel hungry - a feeling of hunger indicates your blood sugar is going down, which makes you prone to craving simple sugars. If you're eating three times a day, eat five. If you're already eating five times, upgrade to six or seven. This doesn't necessarily mean you'll be eating more food; just divide your calories into 6 meals per day.

Change Your Workout Routine
"Variety is the spice of life" - and this phrase has never been so fitting to a scenario! It takes your body only four weeks to get used to a workout. Once something becomes a routine for your metabolism, plateaus are likely. The most efficient way to break a plateau is to shake up your fitness routine. Join an online weight loss program to find tips and ideas. If you are used to 30 mins on the treadmill, switch to cycling or kick-boxing instead. Instead of the stationary bike, switch to a Stepper or a StairMaster. Instead of running in the morning, try playing tennis or do some swimming. Use Interval Training to your advantage; short bursts (30-60 sec)of higher-intensity movement, such as sprint, followed by 2-3 mins of less intense exercise like walking. Adding variety to your routine brings revs up your metabolism as the body has to start adapting again.

Add More Strength Training
If you are not doing so already, start lifting weights now to boost your metabolism and burn fat! When you lift weights, your muscle fibers suffer tiny tears which causes you to experience soreness for a couple days; but that's normal. Changing the intensity of the workout helps a lot. Try to increase the amount of weights you lift, or try changing the number of repetitions. Whenever you change a workout routine your body responds by burning fat. Do not under-estimate the power of strength-training; in fact, lifting weights is the best way to conquer that plateau! Challenge your muscles with harder exercises or heavier weights (every 6 to 8 weeks), adding a set of risers during your step class, increasing the incline on the treadmill, the duration of your run/walk, etc… It might seem tough at first as your newly challenged muscles will have to work harder but you will burn more calories and build more lean muscle mass in the process. its always a good idea to do a combination of resistance machines and free-weights, as the latter can increase metabolic rate as high as 10% in one session!

Avoid Alc0hol & Drink Water
Thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Every time you feel the urge to snack, drink a glass of water first and see if the urge goes away. Coffee, tea or any other juices count as liquids, but add an extra glass of pure water for each cup of coffee you drink, as caffeine tends to dehydrate the body. Research has shown that BMR increase by 30%, not to mention flushing out all toxins from your body, thereby contributing to a healthy weight-loss. As for Alcohol, it is a known fact that it contains a large amount of calories, but hardly any other nutrients, and some of these are also high in sugars and fat. Alc0hol consumption slows down the fat burning capabilities of the body, as the body focuses on using the alcohol (a toxin) as fuel, rather than burning fat for energy. Alc0hol also dehydrates, which in turn, makes you hungry. So avoid Alc0hol, and start drinking more Water instead!

Losing weight requires exercise or controlled caloric intake . While its important to maintain a healthy weight, do not get obsessed by it! And plateaus in weight loss are very common; it only means you've successfully lost a lot of weight, and now you need to re-evaluate your regimen to overcome the weight-loss plateaus. Just follow the simple steps above, and you'll be ready to drop a couple more sizes the next time you buy yourself a new dress!

Carp rid human feet of scaly skin

2008-08-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Ready for the latest in spa pampering? Prepare to dunk your tootsies in a tank of water and let tiny carp nibble away.Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far.

This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet," Ho said.He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary.Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries.But Ho doubted they would thrive in the warm water needed for a comfortable footbath. And he didn't know if customers would like the idea."I know people were a little intimidated at first," Ho said. "But I just said, 'Let's give it a shot.' "Customers were quickly hooked.Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md., heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was "the best pedicure I ever had" and has spread the word to friends and co-workers.

"I'd been an athlete all my life, so I've always had calluses on my feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely," she said.First time customer KaNin Reese, 32, of Washington, described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish: "It kind of feels like your foot's asleep," she said.The fish don't do the job alone. After 15 to 30 minutes in the tank, customers get a standard pedicure, made easier by the soft skin the doctor fish leave behind.Ho believes his is the only salon in the country to offer the treatment, which costs $35 for 15 minutes and $50 for 30 minutes. The spa has more than 1,000 fish, with about 100 in each individual pedicure tank at any given time.Dennis Arnold, a podiatrist who four years ago established the International Pedicure Association, said he had never heard of the treatment and doubts it will become widespread."I think most people would be afraid of it," he said.Customer Patsy Fisher, 42, of Crofton, Md., admitted she was nervous as she prepared for her first fish pedicure. But her apprehension dissolved into laughter after she put her feet in the tank and the fish swarmed to her toes."It's a little ticklish, actually," she said.Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available -- including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off.

In addition to offering pedicures, Ho hopes to establish a network of Doctor Fish Massage franchises and is evaluating a full-body fish treatment that, among other things, could treat psoriasis and other skin ailments.Ho spent a year and about $40,000 getting the pedicures up and running, with a few hiccups along the way.State regulations make no provision for regulating fish pedicures. But the county health department -- which does regulate pools -- required the salon to switch from a shallow, tiled communal pool that served as many as eight people to individual tanks in which the water is changed for each customer.The communal pool also presented its own problem: At times the fish would flock to the feet of an individual with a surplus of dead skin, leaving others with a dearth of fish."It would sometimes be embarrassing for them but it was also really hilarious," Ho said.

Working out Regularly

2008-08-10T20:58:00.001-07:00

Trouble working out regularly Well, this is one problem that a lot of people have and the truth is that various individuals handle it differently. Most of them will simply not go to the gym regularly but let us not do that as we all know going to the gym is both health and has a lot of positive impacts on our lives.
The simplest way to go more often to the gym is to actually go more often to the gym. Drive up to your desired workout facility and walk in. It is not actually important if you do 20 minutes or 2 hours of weight lifting or whatever routine you are into. The important thing is being there and with time passing you will notice that your motivation and workout intensity will continuously increase. Next we recommend that you plan a schedule. Lay out how long your workouts will be and what exercises you will do. To put it simple, write down what body parts you will work out in what days.
One thing that few people do not realize is that watching movies or various shows is a great motivation. For instance, I always start getting back my will to workout when I play a fighting game on my PS2 or when I watch a professional wrestling match on TV or Internet. Find what motivates you and makes you want to go to the gym. Commit yourself to getting better about making your gym going days more regular. You will first need a commitment towards yourself in order to be successful in everything.

Skin Toning Tips

2008-08-10T20:56:00.001-07:00

By: Juliet Cohen
Healthy and supple skin is not so much of a dream if you take proper precautions and pay attention to your diet and exercise. A good daily skin care regimen calls for four basic steps: Cleansing, Exfoliating, Toning and Moisturizing. Skin toners are necessary for all skin types. Skin toners helps to improve blood circulation to the skin surface and gives the skin the glow that is associated with its good health. Toners are used to clean the oil from the skin. They may cause skin feel tighter because of skin irritation. The skin is freshened by skin toning lotions. They help to increase the blood supply to the skin. Toning the skin helps remove any residual cleanser or make-up that may have been left behind. A toner also helps restore the natural pH level of the skin, leaves your skin clean, clear and ready to be hydrated.
Toning close the pores, tighten the skin, and keep it from being exposed to many of the toxins that are floating in the air or other environmental pollutants. Toners can be used to clean the last traces of oil from the skin. Skin toning lotions freshen the skin. They also stimulate the blood supply to the skin. Use astringent lotions with a piece of cotton wool but if your skin is looking worn off and tired, pat it on with a brisk slapping movement. For Normal Skin, chop up a small sized fresh cucumber and liquidize it with half a cup of yoghurt.Apply the mixture for 5-10 minutes, and wash it off. For Oily Skin whisk one egg white until it thickens, then whisk in 1 tsp of honey. Finally add 1 tsp of lemon juice.Apply to your face and neck avoiding the delicate eye and lip areas
The easiest way of applying a toner is to put it on a cotton pad and wipe face in outward and upward strokes. Toners not only cleanse the skin further and help in removing any remnants of particles that you may have left behind but also cools, nourishes, hydrates and freshens up your skin. It tightens up skin and close up any skin pores that may have opened up while deep cleansing the face. Toners must be alcohol-free as alcohol dries off skin. You can also make a natural skin toner at home. Tomato juice is a good skin toner. Cucumber toner is a refreshing toner for normal skins. Chop up a small sized fresh cucumber and liquidize it with half a cup of yoghurt. Apply the mixture for 5-10 minutes, and wash it off. Rose is an excellent skin toner. Vitamin E oil and wheat oil are very effective for dry skin.
Skin Toning tips

Oily skinned people should tone with an astringent lotion.A good skin toner will also help prevent wrinkles.Potato is a effective skin toner especially for dry skin.Vitamin E oil and wheat oil are very effective for dry skin.For dry skin vitamin E and wheat oil are also effective.Toner for sensitive skin is to mash the strawberries and apply it for 5 minutes and wash it off.Top skin toners help remove all traces of oil, dirt and makeup and revitalize your face by closing the pores.

Making Up Your Eyes

2008-08-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

That Actually Work
By: Fred
Eye make up tips are provided on these pages to educate and entice you. There are countless tips that can be considered, but only the best are worth your time. Many of us realize that the eyes are the most essential part of the make up of the face. Take note of these eye make-up tricks for a quick glamour fix that you’ll just adore!
· Arch your brows to begin. The key to a clean look for your eyes begins with a beautiful shapely brow! Avoid the “werewolf syndrome” by trimming and shaping your brows. I highly recommend having a professional stylist do the job. It’s always easier for an expert to tweeze or arch your brows than attempting the do-it-yourself tactic. Be sure to clearly explain your expectations. I always take in a picture to show how I want my brows to look.
Eyeliners. Eyeliners add further definition to the eye and put a more finished look to the effect desired with the application of the eye shadow. To apply the eyeliner, draw the line first on the lower lid, and then draw a line on the upper lid, starting from the inner corner and going towards the outer corner. The eyeliner should be applied closely to the lash line.
Mascara. In putting mascara on the eyelashes, a woman adds more life to her eyes and makes them seem brighter. The color of the mascara that you should choose, however, should complement the color of your skin.
· Choose your shadows wisely. Eye color makes a difference when choosing shadow colors. Brown eyes look good with most colors, however, try adding some variety to your face by spicing it up with some color. Blue and green eyes should avoid the blue and green shadows. This will give you a pale and dull appearance. If you have blue or green eyes, smoky colors tend to bring out your eyes the best. A make-up trio is good to buy because part of the work is already done for you, color coordination. When you use a color trio, go from lighter to darker starting at the lid part of your eye.
· Applying the Shadow. Most women just start applying shadow without the most important initial step, the base. Using foundation to base your eyes brings out the true color of the shadow and allows the shadow to stay on longer. After the base, apply the shadow with a long tipped brush. These are just better for application and blending. To top it off, add a little liner to the very top of your lids to make your eyes appear sexier, but be sure to smudge it. Helpful hint-after applying more than one color, blend them with a separate brush to create a more natural look.
· Mascara is a Must- Choosing your mascara is tricky. Most women don’t put much thought or money into the type of mascara that they use. Well, if I were to invest in one expensive type of make-up, it would be the mascara. Why? Well, for one, cheap mascara can actually lead to breakage of the lashes! It’s true… cheap mascara, which leads to clumping, weighs down the lashes, which eventually leads to tearing lids out to remove the mascara. You can choose thickening mascara, lengthening, or conditioning (if you don’t need longer or thicker lashes) depending on what you need. The make-up market has a plethora of mascara products to choose from. I suggest avoiding colorful mascaras, as they tend to add too much to your look.
· Pull your look together by color-coding. Basically, be sure to tie it all together by choosing the rest of your cosmetics to match your beautiful new eyes. If you are wearing smoky eyes, red lips look great! Shimmery shadows go great with nude or earth tone lips. Never mix shiny lips with shimmery, eyes unless you want to look like a character from High School Musical. With a more matte look, say, an Audrey Hepburn classic look, you can sport earth-tone lips or red lips. Just be sure that you aren’t over killing on one color.
Curl lashes An eyelash curler will make even long lashes look more gorgeous. For added effect, you can heat the curler under a blowdryer for a couple seconds. Test curler before applying to lashes because you could burn yourself.
Apply mascara Place the wand of your mascara brush at the bottom of lashes and wiggle back and forth. Follow with another few sweeps of the wand. Apply to bottom lashes as well.

How To Reduce Wrinkles And Look Younger

2008-08-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

By: Roberto Bell

Would you like to reduce those worrisome fine lines on your face and look youthful again? Here are some helpful tips.
As you get up there in years, certain problems are going to crop up and one of them is wrinkles. They can show up around your eyes, forehead, cheeks and neck. You can get rather depressed when you look into a mirror. Take heart, there are answers.
Maybe you cannot stop time from marching on, but you can reduce the signs of the aging process and look better than ever. Here is what happens and some suggestions to follow.
Why Do You Develop Wrinkles?
As a person ages, the skin undergoes significant changes. The inner layer of the skin begins to thin and the cells begin to divide more slowly. Fat cells begin to lessen or die beneath the dermis.
The network of collagen fibers and elastin which provide a sort of scaffolding for the surface layer begin to loosen and unravel. Skin then loses its elasticity. It tends to droop and forms furrows.
The oil secreting and sweat glands atrophy, and the skin cannot retain its moisture. Therefore, it becomes dry and scaly. Constant facial expressions form characteristic lines. Gravity makes the situation worse and contributes to the formation of drooping eyelids and jowls. Also, eyebrows tend to move up as someone ages perhaps because of forehead wrinkles and the skin has less of an ability to repair itself so wounds heal more slowly.
There are other forces at play that can make your skin suffer, such as :
1. The sun damages collagen fibers and causes an accumulation of abnormal elastin. Metalloproteinases, or enzymes, are produced that are able to repair most of the damage, however, it is this repetition of the rebuilding process that is done over and over again that causes skin problems.
2. The sun's UV radiation promotes oxidation. This also leads to the development of skin abnormalities.
3. Cigarette smoking causes the thickening and fragmentation of elastin, reduces circulation and the amount of oxygen that is supplied to the skin, and leads to less Collagen formation and reduced water content in the skin. Lastly, smoking compromises the ability of the skin to fend off free radicals causing cell destruction.
4. Air pollution – Ozone may be a problem for the skin. It may cause depletion of Vitamin E in the skin which is a vital antioxidant.
5. Rapid weight loss – This can cause fine lines since it reduces the volume of fat cells which cushion the face. This will cause the skin to sag.
6. Heredity – You may have inherited some skin characteristics from your parents.
Wrinkles are the most noticable signs of aging. As tissues sag, these lines form a type of canvas that is covered with cracks that have varying depths. As time marches on, they deepen and reach the dermis. As the dermis loses its elasticity, it becomes slack which leads to the formation of more pronounced wrinkles over 0.05 mm in depth.
Here is the normal progression of wrinkles characterized by age group:
20-25 – Vertical wrinkles on one's forehead and even between the eyebrows may already be visible. Fine lines at the external edges of the eyes are not yet noticeable.
25-40 – In the epidermis, wrinkles begin to deepen. They are less than 0.0005 mm in depth. They are caused by the superficial drying out of one's skin as well as the slowing down of cellular renewal.
40-50 – Fine lines around the lips, crow's feet, furrows alongside of the nose and the line between the eyebrows are all beginning to deepen. The skin loses it elasticity and the facial contours are not less well defined.
50 and over – Hormonal secretions end as menopause appears and this speeds up the aging process. The skin's surface begins to modify and intermediary lines are replaced by ever deepening furrows.
The older you become, the more wrinkles you get. You can minimize this damage by taking good care of your skin.
Anti Aging Skin Care Treatments: here are a few promising treatments for sagging skin. There are some new wrinkle creams and topical lotions, like Avotone or Revitol, that contain natural ingredients that may help lessen this problem. For example:
1. Argireline - this is a safer alternative to Botox. It is not derived from any poisonous substance, but from naturally occurring amino acids. This element relaxes facial tension because it is able to reduce the excessive release of neurotransmitters which are also known as catecholamines. These make your facial muscles become tense. If your muscles are not tense, they do not contribute to wrinkles. Also, it may slow down the degeneration of elastin and collagen which normally occurs with aging.
2. Dermox SRC - this is a specially tested serum that helps to control wrinkles, increases the synthesis of collagen, and restores the skin's surface.
3. DMAE - it has been indicated that this antioxidant is able to function as a cell membrane stabilizing agent. It reinforces the skin's foundation of elastin and collagen, makes cells live longer, and helps avoid cell dehydration. It may also assist in the healing of scars, which includes acne scars, and helps to flush out excessive lipofuscin from skin cells reducing age spots.
How Can You Minimize Fine Lines and Wrinkles?
There are many things you can do to reduce the wrinkles that you already have and minimize future occurences. These include:

Stay out of the sunAvoid smokingUse a very good topical anti-wrinkle creamDrink plenty of waterEat plenty of vegetables and fruitsExerciseBy following these steps regularly, you will be taking important actions to help maintain a youthful appearance while reducing the onset of aging skin.

Hair Straighteners Tips

2008-08-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

By: Fred
With a hair straightener from Morphy Richards you can do far more than just straighten your hair. Our hair straighteners are versatile, multi-purpose styling tools that can be used in a variety of ways to create a huge range of exciting and dynamic hairstyles. With a little imagination, your Morphy Richards hair straightener can transform your look and bring real personality to your hair.
Adding shine to your hair they say this is now possible by straightening your hair using special straightners. Years ago there were the Babyliss Straight and Shine Steam Straightners which for 7years ago worked very well at straightening your hair and seemingly adding shine to your hair. There is now a newer version of these called Thermaglass Salon Slim Hair Straightners, these are supposed to give your hair a smoother and straighter look whilst giving your hair extra shine.
There are also different widths of hair straightners the wide ones and the slim ones. The wide ones are better for people with thicker and longer hair whilst the slim ones would take a lot of effort to straighten thick hair but work well on long hair just takes a little longer.
Hair Straightener Guide
With a hair straightener from Morphy Richards you can do far more than just straighten your hair. Our hair straighteners are versatile, multi-purpose styling tools that can be used in a variety of ways to create a huge range of exciting and dynamic hairstyles. With a little imagination, your Morphy Richards hair straightener can transform your look and bring real personality to your hair.
Modern flat irons
High-end modern hair straighteners have ceramic heating elements, which cause less damage to hair, are more effective and heat up faster than non-ceramic coated heating plates. Less expensive brands usually do not have ceramic heating elements though some may have a paint-like coating that gives the appearance of ceramic plating.
Many high end straighteners claim to use ionic and infra red technology, which claims to seal in moisture and oils and to reduce static and frizz.
Depending on the hair type, repeated use of hair straighteners, like most other heat styling tools, can cause varying amounts of damage such as split ends, thinning of the hair shaft and even causing hair to become brittle and prone to breakage. Generally, after extensive damage, hair will show signs of dryness and display an unhealthy appearance. However, many companies, such as L’Oréal and Tresemmé, have began to manufacture heat protection sprays and cream which aim to reduce the amount of damage that is caused by the use of straighteners.
Curling With Hair Straighteners
Curling with your hair straightener is a simple way to add body and texture to your hair. Although it may seem surprising, a Morphy Richards hair straightener is actually a very effective tool for creating curls in your hair.

Begin by straightening your hair if it isn’t straight already. This will give you a “blank canvas” to work with.Divide your hair into sections. The more sections you make, the looser your curls will be.Clamp your hair straighteners over a section, trying to keep the heated plates as close to the roots as possible. As you pull your hair straighteners through your hair, turn them 180 degrees by rotating your wrist. Make sure you maintain an even, gentle tension on your hair. To produce tighter curls clamp harder, rotate the straightener more and increase the tension on your hair.Don’t brush your hair after curling – simply tease your fingers through it to add body and bounce.
Creating Flips With Your Straightener
Creating flips with your hair straightener is an easy technique that adds real character to any hair style. To create a flip in your hair, simply straighten your hair as normal, but, when you reach the tip, curve your hair straightener outwards to introduce a flip out, or inward to create a flip in. This straightforward technique is a great way to add interest and put an intriguing spin on a straight hairstyle.

Exercising Every Morning

2008-08-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

The layer of fat on your abdomen is not very sexy, is it? It is demoralizing to not be able to fit in your favorite clothes anymore. This is usually when people either decide to do something about it or continue putting on weight. Since the best solution at hand is obviously getting to lose that extra weight, we recommend one alternative that might do wonders, one that involves exercising every morning. The trick is waking up a little more early and starting doing basic exercises like warm ups and push ups. By simply doing exercises early in the morning, every morning and then follow it up with aerobics, you will notice that you will feel better, look better and lose that excessive ABS fat.
The Internet is full of possibilities. You can start here by looking for online videos that teaches you exercises you can do in order to lose weight. Try them at home. It will take some time till you master your new schedule but the benefits are not to be denied. Determination will take you a long way and by simply doing aerobics and body weight exercises every morning you will soon start losing pounds. Losing weight is not only done by spending a lot of money and this is what exercising each morning is all about!