Beauty Tricks

Brush off cellulite: The hormone oestrogen is partly to blame for fatty deposits, as well as lack of exercise and poor circulation. So give nature a helping hand with a body brush. In the shower, massage your calves and thighs with a brush that has rounded teeth. Have a close shave: Waxing is all very well, but the easiest and cheapest way to keep legs fuzzfree is with a razor. Shave downwards in the direction that the hair grows, then upwards for a close finish. Prevent ingrowth by massaging with an exfoliating cloth every day.

Food for Firmer Pins

Beat salt: A high salt diet is known to cause fluid retention, so ditch sodium-rich foods such as crisps, ready meals and Chinese take-out. Eat away the bumps: Oily fish such as salmon, fresh tuna and mackerel are packed with omega-3 fats, which help the body shift flab while maintaining muscle tone. Get your greens: Spinach, broccoli and other leafy green vegetables help beat cellulite. Oats so simple: Tucking into oats in the form of porridge or cereal each morning can help beat the bloat. This is because they’re packed with soluble fibre, which boosts digestion and encourages the body to eliminate excess fluid.

Limb-Honinb Exercise Moves

Squat for slimmer thighs:

Try these ball squats everyday…

1. Place a full water bottle on the floor with feet wide apart.
2. Bend down and pick up bottle up.
3. Bend again, place bottle on floor.
4. Repeat in sets of six.

Skip for better Shape
Skipping with a rope for 10 minutes every other day is a great way to create some attractive curves, not to mention it’s a fun exercise.

Fashion Fixes

Get high and waisted: Skirts, shorts and cuffed pants that sit high on your waist will make your legs look longer and your bottom trimmer.

Be well-heeled: Strappy sandals visually cut the leg at the ankle and make it look shorter. Go for pumps and strappy sandals with no ankle straps.

Raise your hemline: If you don’t love your legs it can be tempting to hide them under calf-length skirts or shorts. But cuts that end on the widest part of your calf actually make your legs look thicker. So try and avoid that pitfall. Hemlines that end an inch or two above the knee create the illusion of slimmer legs without flashing too much thigh. Just the thing that you want.
Choose neutral shoes: To elongate the line of your legs, choose shoes in a neutral colour that’s similar to your natural skin tone. Actually, these days, you can even find sandals with sheer straps. Otherwise you can try pearl, beige, tan and brown. Even metallics make the legs look like they go on forever. Silver works for those with fair skin, while those with tanned or wheatish complexion can try bronze and silver

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Considering the damage it can do to your body, it’s no surprise that anger is described in such violent terms.
The effects of anger can last up to a week: Outbursts send one’s heart rate and blood pressure skyrocketing
and increase the circulation of stress hormones.

Excessive anger raises the risk for heart disease and possibly the rate of hardening of the arteries. Anger
can even trigger potentially deadly heart rhythms in vulnerable people. While you can’t always control what makes you angry, you can learn to manage your anger so it doesn’t damage you.

1. Ta ke a brea ther . Breathe deeply or visualize a soothing image until you calm down
2. Look for humor in the situation
3. Burn it off . Even a short walk can release physical tension and reduce stress hormones
4. Be asser tive , not aggressive. Directly address the problem, calmly and effectively. How can you resolve it now or prevent it in the future? If you can’t, let it go!
5. If your an ger is out of con trol,  get professional help.

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Letting Go of unimportant things

In studying how people make choices, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that we perceive relationships and objects as more valuable when we fear losing them. As a result, we spend time and energy staying connected to them to avoid feelings of loss. Often these people or things really are not a significant part of our lives.

Saying Goodbye to Possibilities

Choosing one job or one romantic partner over another might mean eliminating future possibilities. But, at the same time, it allows you to center on what is most important to you. While dealing with the initial loss is difficult, keeping too many doors open can be emotionally and physically draining – or can prevent you from making any choices at all.

 Staying Focused

By limiting your options and saying no to new commitments, you will likely feel less conflicted and can allow yourself to focus on what is most important. For a calmer, more satisfying lifestyle, re-evaluate how you spend your time. Prioritize social and volunteer commitments; give up those that are not fulfilling or are otherwise less important to you. Rethink timeconsuming hobbies that have lost their appeal. Trim holiday card lists – and even instant messaging lists – to only those with whom you want to remain in contact. Consider your current responsibilities before volunteering to take on new projects at work. Keep your children’s after-school activities in check – then enjoy some extra time relaxing together.

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Study authors recommend a 135-degree torso-thigh angle:

• Sit with hips a few inches higher than knees; rest feet flat and recline slightly. Place a small pillow behind the lower back if necessary.
• Stand with your chest high, shoulders back, abdominal muscles in and head held straight.
• When standing, periodically shift weight by walking or resting one foot on a step or block.
• Don’t slouch when seated. Scottish researchers found that sitting in a supported, Bend at the knees and avoid twisting motions to prevent back strain when lifting.
• Office workers: Keep tops of computer monitors at eye level or slightly below and align hands, wrists and forearms when typing.
• Health workers: Push – don’t pull – beds and equipment carts.
• Construction professionals: Choose tools with coated handles to reduce the impact

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Stop Smoking – Today – Why?

If you look for one reason to quit smoking, you will find many. Some are very well known and some not so popular. Check out the following list and get motivated to stop this habit before it stops your life.

1. Prevent lung cancer – more than 80 percent of smokers would suffer from some or other respiratory related diseases; a very high percentage of this number would be of cancer; lung cancer. This is a horrendous, tortuously slow and extremely painful death. You would literally suffocate over 6-36 months dying a lingering death that you would not wish on your worst enemy. Don’t you think this is an excellent reason to quit smoking?
2. Repair your looks – did you know that smoking is ‘stealing’ oxygen from your blood? The under-oxygenated blood in turn affects most of the organs in the body – negatively. One of the organs thus attacked and very obvious to the naked eye, is the skin. The skin of a smoker would have an unhealthy pallor and would suffer from dryness. Very often the skin would look like parchment paper and it is easily wrinkled at a very young age. A good reason to quit smoking is hence, to look better and prevent premature wrinkling of your skin.
3. Protecting those who live around you – these obviously would be your family and friends. A good number of reports point to the fact that passive smoking is much more harmful than smoking itself. In this case you would be guilty of poisoning your children, spouse, parents and friends. Is that not a sufficient reason to quit smoking?
4. You do not smell so terrible – a smoker smells of cigarettes; all the time. No matter what deodorant you use, you would still smell of cigarette smoke. It is often that your breath too, would be invaded by this smell, which is definitely not at all pleasant. Are you still searching for a reason to quit smoking?

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In fact, a recent study of more than 50,000 employees from a variety of manufacturing and service organizations found that two out of every five employees are dissatisfied with the balance between their work and their personal lives. The lack of balance “is due to long work hours, changing demographics, more time in the car, the deterioration of boundaries between work and home, and increased work pressure,” says the study’s author, Bruce Katcher, president of the Discovery Group, a management consulting firm.

Sometimes we feel that we just don’t have any time in the world to spare for our own health. With the pressures of work and family it seems that every hour of the day is taken doing something other than improving our health.

Maybe there is a solution to this hectic lifestyle that can give you the benefits of improved health and get the same amount done in the day.

If the dog needs a walk, then how about taking it for a run instead. You will still be out for the same amount of time but you will be getting increased benefit from running rather than walking. Or, if you don’t like running, you can step up the pace of your walk. Not only will you be getting fitter, but your pet will also be healthier.

And if you have to mow the lawn on the weekend then try walking faster with the mower, or if you have a big property run with the mower. Now that will give you a good workout and you will have more time for relaxation in the time you have saved by mowing the lawn faster.

Try walking to work rather than driving the car or park the car a little further from your office and walk the extra distance.

Go for a walk or run at lunchtime rather than sitting in the lunch room or your office.

If you are sitting in an office all day working at a desk try doing leg extensions as you sit there. Even without weight resistance you will still be exercising your legs and you can add weights if you like to get more benefit from these exercises.

Drink water rather than coffee and tea to boost your energy and you might just find the energy to spend a little more time on yourself.

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Descriptive names for cellulite include orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, the mattress phenomenon, and hail damage. Synonyms include: adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy. Cellulite is unrelated to cellulitis, which is infection of the skin and its underlying connective tissue.

While there are many different products and treatments on the market that are designed to help reduce cellulite there is nothing better than to make lifestyle changes for a faster reduction in the cellulite that you might have.

These changes won’t cost anywhere near as much as the treatments and the results are generally a lot better.

So what are these changes that you can make to reduce your cellulite?

For a start you should always eat fresh food and eliminate where possible any processed and packaged foods.

Replacing fatty foods and foods that are high in sugar with food that is higher in protein would reduce your storage of fat. You should always be eating a certain amount of fresh fruit and vegetables each day.

Drinking sufficient water will also help you to maintain good health and in doing so will reduce the possibility of getting cellulite.

You do not have to be overweight to get cellulite and it is not unusual to see some girls who are quite slim with cellulite on the back of their legs (Read Paris Hilton). This is a sure sign that their lifestyle is out of balance or their nutrition is not good.

Obviously if you are overweight the incidence of you having cellulite will be higher.

Participating in regular exercise will also help to reduce cellulite and will stimulate the blood flow through your body and help to burn calories and fat.

In addition to making these lifestyle changes with a little extra exercise and good nutrition, you can also see some benefits by using a body brush to improve your skin texture.

You do have to remember however that most of the benefits towards eliminating cellulite will come from within.

Supplementation with a good multivitamin and mineral tablet daily also improves your health and in doing so will help to reduce the build up a fat that is causing your cellulite.

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If you are following a fitness program you will need to consume more water. We are constantly losing water throughout the day and even at night while we sleep. To remain hydrated we need to replace this water by drinking sufficient quantities so we never get thirsty.

With exercise we perspire more than normal and thereby lose more water, so any time we exercise we need to drink more water than we would normally drink.

If you feel thirsty then you are already getting dehydrated and your body is telling you to do something about it.

The problem with many people is their misunderstanding with what is suitable to drink. There are so many flavored drinks available that people resort to these in preference to drinking water alone. Water doesn’t have all the added sugars, preservatives and colorings that are detrimental to your health.

By remaining hydrated you will have more energy and this will allow you to perform better at the gym or your chosen exercise program. It will also allow you to recover faster after a workout and reduce the chance of injury.

It is better to sip water constantly throughout the day, rather than try to meet your minimum requirements by drinking a lot all at one time.

Most people live on a daily basis with less water than they should be having and that is why many people feel lethargic.

If you are living in a hot climate you will need to consume more to compensate for the additional loss due to perspiration.

If you are consuming alcohol or caffeine you will need additional water to compensate for the diuretic effect that these have on the body.

Have a glass of water before you go to bed at night and you should find you have increased energy when you wake up in the morning.

Also – You should have access to water when you are exercising and sip regularly from it. This will help you to have a better workout and have more energy throughout your session.

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Since the 1950s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared BPA safe for food containers. But the agency failed to review health evidence from animal studies that show serious health effects. A panel of government scientists recently called for BPA to be reevaluated, and the FDA has agreed. Until we know all the facts about this chemical, it’s wise for consumers to take steps to protect themselves. Here are some answers to common questions about BPA.

Is BPA in every plastic containers?

No. BPA is only in polycarbonate plastic, which is found in hard, clear baby bottles; toddler sippy cups;reusable water bottles; and large, multigallon plastic jugs used for water dispensers. Canned food and soft-drink containers are also often lined with a think film of material containing BPA. Meanwhile, studies show that BPA has been found in the urine of more than 90 percent of adults and children tested.

What harm can BPA cause?

Laboratory studies of animals suggest BPA may cause developmental probalems in the brain and hormonal systems of infants and children. In human studies, new research shows that adults with a high level of BPA are about three times more likely than those with a low level to have heart disease, diabetes or liver problems.

How can I protect my family from BPA?

If you have a baby or toddler, is  BPA-free baby bottles and sippy cups. Or choose glass bottles or stainless steel cup. Some manufacturers are marketing BPA-free versions of refillable plastic bottles. To help identify polycarbonate bottles, turn the container upside down and look for numbers inside the “chasing arrows” symbol. Avoid bottles labeled 7, which is the category that included polycarbonate plastic.

How do I avoid BPA in canned goods?

This is more challenging. You can buy more fresh foods, frozen goods or items packaged in glass containers. When available, choose soups and other foods in cardboard cartons.

Reference: This is article was published in Spring 2009 edition of  ‘Your Health” magazine, pp 10-11. This article is re-published on this website for the benefit our readers.

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