September 6th, 2010

Gorgeous Salon Results Using Low Cost Hair Care Items

With today’s economy in such a big giant bottomless hole, some of us have had to push relieve our spending habits. One of the first cut backs most women take are with our beauty/hair care products.

I myself am a vast spender in the makeup, bath, and hair care department. Although I tend to splurge every now and then on one product I must have, I have found that my splurging parties (a splurging party by my definition is: consume whatever you see, no matter how expensive it is) have arrive to a very abrupt end.

For years I have been spending top dollars on hair care products, and ever since I cut back on my spending I was quite surprised to find that some really low priced hair care products work impartial as good, if not better than the designer high end hair care products that I’ve bought in the past.

One particular favorite that sticks out the most, and that I have been buying time and time again is Garnier Fructis Fortifying Deep Conditioner 3 Dinky Masque. It sells in stores such as Wal-Mart for around $5.00 for a 10.2 ounce bottle.

Why I love this stuff so much is the fact that it leaves my hair extremely moisturized, smelling like a fresh fruit basket, and adds a nice bounce to my hair. Best of all though is the abundant shine that it adds with just a 3 minute treatment.

I use it bi-weekly and it tends to keep my hair looking nice and feeling nice for the entire week.

Another cheap-o hair care product that I fetch delivers great results is Pantene’s Collected and Sleek shampoo and conditioner. Although it does not straighten my hair, it does leave my hair a heck of a lot more manageable than usual; plus it adds a ton of moisture to my locks. I really like this stuff as a cheap fix me up after dyeing my hair. It infuses the strands with moisture leaving processed hair feeling great. It can be found at nearly any superstore for about $5.00 a bottle. I recommend buying both the shampoo and the conditioner.

If you are really on an extreme budget you can hit up many dollar stores or superstores that sell Suave products. Many of their products don’t come to more than $1.50.

When it comes to keeping styles in place, I have always liked expensive hair sprays. One hairspray though that will not take you into debt is the one and only fresh Aquanet. I love this stuff because it holds all day, and does not leave those despicable white flakes behind. For only $3.00 Aquanet sprays will leave your hair in region, incandescent, and touchable, without the stiffening feeling many sprays leave leisurely.

One free and easy technique to rid your hair of frizz would be to tie it in a bun before going to sleep. In the morning your hair will be much easier to manage, and frizz will subside quite a bit. I usually do this every night and I wake up with easier to brush hair, with less frizz. Do not tie a wet bun up before going to bed. Make sure your hair is dry. I have done this before with rancid bed head results!

Another extremely cheap method to adding shine to your hair would be to use the satisfactory ole’ cracked egg mixture. Crack an egg in a bowl, and use just the yolks in your hair.

If egg cracking is not your thing, you can use other very cheap priced products that will add colorful shine to your hair. One that I use time and time again is Got2Be Gorgeous Shine Spray. Normally this stuff sells for around $6.00-$7.00; however you can find it for much less when it goes on sale. Folica.com is selling Dazzling Shine Spray for only $5.95.

This shine in spray works wondrous results, leaving hair blazing with shine. It also adds a nice fresh scent to your hair, and leaves hair feeling so silky and smooth.

There honestly are so many cheap methods to obtaining beautiful hair. Many of them won’t even cost you $5.00. If you find something cheap, why not try it? You impartial never know how well it will work.

September 6th, 2010 | Posted in Healthy Hair Habits | Tagged with , , , | No Comments »

September 6th, 2010

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks

  • Beef Jerky

  • Almonds

  • Sunflower Seeds


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As I mentioned in a previous article, your food cravings are a way for your body to disclose you that you need more vitamins and minerals in your diet. While, your brain may get confused and crave unhealthy foods, there are ways to settle healthy snacks to satisfy your food cravings, if you know which vitamins and minerals your body needs. When it comes to salty food cravings, you body needs chloride. You can find chloride in fish and unrefined sea salt. But, let’s say you just want a healthy way to rob care of your salty food cravings. Are there healthy snacks that can satisfy your craving, without expanding your waistband? Here are ten healthy snacks that will easily satisfy your salty food cravings.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #1: Beef Jerky

Beef jerky is a great way to satisfy your salty food cravings. Beef jerky is healthy because it’s loaded with protein, but low in calories and fat. It’s also filling, so not only will you satisfy your salty food cravings, but you’ll satisfy your hunger as well.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #2: Almonds

Almonds are another healthy snack that will satisfy your salty food cravings. Almonds are the most nutrition dense nut you can find. They are high in protein, a good source of fiber, have monounsaturated fats, calcium, and even iron.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #3: Baked Lay’s

Do you have a salty food craving for potato chips, but don’t want all the fat and calories of traditional potato chips? Then why not snack on Baked Lay’s? Baked Lay’s are a healthy snack, simply because they’re baked, not fried.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #4: Roasted Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds have often been called a multi vitamin because they are so packed with nutrients. If you want to satisfy your salty food cravings, choose roasted sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are packed with vitamin E, fiber, protein, calcium, and iron.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #5: Popcorn

Popcorn is an extremely healthy snack. Popcorn is also filling so it’s a astronomical way to satisfy your salty food cravings. Popcorn contains fiber and protein, but it’s also low in fat and calories. Just be sure to avoid movie theater flavors.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #6: Pretzels

Granted pretzels aren’t packed with nutrients, but they are still a healthy snack. Pretzels are not only filling, but they are also shameful in calories and fat free.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #7: Cheese and Whole Wheat Crackers

While it’s unhealthy to eat colossal amounts of cheese, a one ounce serving is a healthy snack. Cheese has protein and calcium and when you combine it with whole wheat crackers, you’ll also get fiber.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #8: Homemade Tortilla Chips and Salsa

The next time you’d like to drive to your favorite Mexican restaurant for a quick bite, try making some homemade tortilla chips and salsa. All you need to do is spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray and then add a layer of tortillas that you have cut into triangles. Spray the tops of the chips and bake at 350 until crispy. Salsa is also easy to make. You simply combine chopped tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and cilantro.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #9: Roasted Potato Wedges

If your salty food craving is screaming for French fries, construct roasted potato wedges instead. These are really easy to make. All you need to do is slice a potato into wedges and coat with mixture of olive oil and your favorite spices. For example, you could use Cajun seasoning. Bake at 450 until the potatoes are nice and crispy.

Satisfy Salty Food Cravings with Healthy Snacks #10: Captivating Quesadilla

Another plot to fix your craving for Mexican food is to make a spicy quesadilla. All you need is a large tortilla and pepper jack cheese. Status the tortilla in a skillet and add the cheese to one side. Fold the tortilla over and cook until brown and crispy on both sides. Encourage with low-fat sour cream and homemade salsa.

September 6th, 2010 | Posted in Healthy Habits Restaurant | Tagged with , | No Comments »

September 5th, 2010

Top 10 Diet Plans for Weight Loss

These top 10 diet plans for weight loss can give someone hope where hope is less found. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t look at mirrors every time you pass one. Don’t listen to the negative thoughts you may have about possibly being overweight. Treat yourself to a new you with these top ten picks of diet plans for weight loss, as we begin with number 10.

10. Diet.com is an online group that helps with the behavioral reach to losing weight. Diet.com doesn’t close there, they offer nutritional education through many intelligent minds. Also, a behavioral seek information from is found at Diet.com . A website that requires you to sign-up, but it’s all free so what do you have to lose? Bad habits of looking at weight loss in the wrong angle. The benefits can be countless for those who become involved in Diet.com, but there is only one scheme to get there. Diet.com shares another plan for those seeking to lose weight, the conception of self-awareness.

9. For the men, and women, that want to change their 12 pack into a 6 pack, Tom Venuto’s Burn the Elephantine plan comes in handy. Tom shares twenty years of experience in his diet understanding, and muscle booster. He shows how to turn some fat into muscle, and shed the remainder of unhealthy fat for good. This is perfect for those who would rather not recall diet pills, or supplements, and keeping a metabolism at bay. Tom is a specialist, and knowledged in “physical” science when it comes to the human body. Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle 337 page book by Tom Ventuno has been rated high on those who have experienced Tom’s weight loss plan and muscle builder first hand. For offering a life-time diet notion that does so much in only a couple of days a week results in the rightful spot on the list of the top ten diet plans.

8.Diet Watch is another good diet and weight loss plan. Diet Watch offers many different paths to take, not fair one, since they take in account that each body is different. They even have a 12 week emotional eating course, that’s right ladies and some men. For 12 weeks you can find out how to lose weight and remain at bay emotionally. Men usually don’t care what they perceive like (I am sure I will glean feedback for this one), but some men that do care about their health enough to try. Diet Gawk is more than just a meal plan, as you will take note after visiting DietWatch.com.

7. What about those who have more to judge topping weight loss? Lesley Ellis offers the 7-Day Detox Diet PlanChange Your Eating Habits for Life. This smaller than most books (192 pages) is a nice addition to anyone’s battle against weight gain. Don’t let the weight win, tackle it for life by using this diet plan for weight loss. You can come by this book at TheFind.com in the Beauty section, or at Borders.com. No matter where you earn it, the notice seems to always be under $15, an affordable way to find a diet plan to help lose weight.

6. Medifast offers a plan for those 75 or more pounds overweight, and not suggested for those only a little overweight. Medifast is for hard-core issues on weight loss, as they offer a diet plan that has already recieved much positive feedback thus far. The Medifast Medical Group authored a book that they offer to help your progress, including upcoming 5% discounts for VIP users. With Medifast’s online community, online meal planner, and online weight loss tracker, they honest made life more simple for everyone. You can salvage your meals by ordering online at Medifast1.com . Medifast, a plan that covers all the corners in successful diet and weight loss.

Top 5 Diet Plans for Weight Loss

5. Retain Your Brain, Reshape Your BodyThe Breakthrough Brain-Changing Weight Loss Plan by Georgia Andrianopoulos is a huge plan to incorporate into any diet and weight loss goal. The human brain can be quite a playground at times, especially when it spots a donut. Like Homer, the brain is hard to tame, doh! But with this book, you can regain new knowledge about how your brain works, and how to rearrange your temptations towards food. This book goes for $16.95 at many book stores, and can be found online at Amazon.com.

4. For the children and teens, the Natty Kids diet and weight loss plan is trustworthy! Parents, your world is about to change when you visit TrimKids.com. Here Trim Kids helps guide you to a better life-style for your children or teens, but you have to help them through it somewhat since your job is far from over as a parent. In my research, I have not found the main website for this book, however I have found the book itself at Amazon.com. Trim Kids A Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight by Melinda S. Sothern, T. Kristian von Almen, and Heidi Schumacher had been written in 2003. Throughout the last five years, this book has become valuable ten times over, as it is rated high on the list of weight loss success for children and teens. At Amazon, they offer this book for $12.95, not too awful for gathering a great 12 week weight loss plan for the little ones to easily complete. The children are important, as Trim Kids makes it on the top ten diet plans with the youth at mind.

3.Nutrisystem meal replacement program works, but you have to understand to follow the path, the guide, the schedule. Meals go for approximately $9 a day (what you would employ regularly for food not on sale). Nutrisystem is ahead of the game since their plan surrounds the idea of the Glycemic Index (described above). For those wishing to work with the Glycemic Index, but do not know exactly how to do it, or the benefit and educational areas lack in their library, perhaps Nutrisystem may encourage. They aesthetic grand get you there through their lessons, meal plans, and daily routines to follow. Don’t disaster, it sounds like a lot, but is easier than it sounds.

2.Glycemic Index diet and weight loss plan makes it on the top ten list of better health since it focuses on the inside, and not so much as the outside. It goes back to the bare fact that “you are what you eat”. Glycemic Index (GI, or G.i.) is the measure of carbs that breaks down glucose that is released into the bloodstream. The trick is high in GI, low in carbs. A mammoth book came out on the Glycemic Index called Glycemic Index by Rick Gallop, as others have found that focusing on the GI is important when wanting to lose weight. The Glycemic connection, become aware and share the latest in diet plans (through the Glycemic Index).

1. The first plan in the top ten diet plans for weight loss goes to the Common Sense Diet plan. This plan was created for the people, by the people. The Favorite Sense Diet plan is quite simple if you know how to discipline yourself. First switch in habits would be to place one slice of bread on your plate, instead of two. Have your glass half-way instead of full. Avoid the cookie, icecream, and soda isle as worthy as you can. Simple everyday knowledge that may require reminding to successfully reach. Did you know that gum stays in your system longer than other stomach guests, and adds pounds via sugars, and so on? Another fun fact when you have the hasten to chew. It’s all about curving your appetite away from those little extras in life that contribute to possible weight gain, another part of the Current Sense Diet Conception.

Exercise is important for any human body since it keeps muscles alive, and builds other areas of the human body that can make an old man fade faster. The Popular Sense Diet conception requires a little exhaust. For those who have the habit of asking others to catch them things, perhaps taking charge of the legs may help. In other words, get up and do it yourself. Stop giving your body a reason to become the world’s greatest couch potato record breaker of all time. A little exercise counts when introducing any diet plan, just another rule to the Popular Sense Diet plan. The Common Sense Diet plan, putting the common sense back into the diet.

Weight loss can make or break the crystal ball of a person’s health. If you plan something, and it does not work for you, do not give up. Simply try something new until you have located the right diet plan for your body. Keep moving, even if you tried countless plans, for one day you will meet your match in diet plans for weight loss.

September 5th, 2010 | Posted in Exercise Habits | Tagged with , , , | No Comments »

September 4th, 2010

How to Lose Weight Using the USDA Food Pyramid

  • It’s not necessary to count calories to stay in a healthy range for weight loss

  • The USDA food pyramid has the information to help you make healthy decisions about food portions

  • Proper diet and exercise will lead to weight loss


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Everyone knows that to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you take in. The problem is no one likes to count calories – it’s tiresome and tiring,, and takes up too much time. But there is a simpler way to keep your calories within a general ’safe’ range and lose weight without having to count calories, and it’s based upon the US Department of Agriculture’s food pyramid.

Lose Weight with the Food Pyramid – The Basics

We’re all familiar with the USDA food pyramid. The most important information on the food pyramid for our purposes is the information on food portions. These fraction guidelines will allow you to eat healthy and lose weight without having to count calories. The food pyramid makes the following recommendations: 3 portions of grains, 2-3 cups of vegetables, 1-2 cups of fruit, 3 cups of milk product and 5-6 ounce equivalent portions of meat. It also recommends limiting the oils and fats found in your food. Ok… but what does all that mean? It means you don’t need to count calories to lose weight, as long as you stay within the portion guidelines. If you follow the food pyramid share recommendations and exercise moderately, you will lose weight.

Lose Weight with the Food Pyramid – Grains

The food pyramid suggests that you eat 3 portions of grains a day. A part is equal to one ounce, or a one ounce equivalent. A slice of bread, a cup of cereal, or ½ cup servings of cooked rice, pasta or oatmeal are all considered 1 ounce equivalents. It’s important to get the most nutritional value possible from your food, so your grain choice should all be whole grain. Whole grain is more filling and high in fiber. Fiber is capable for digestive health, and is an important ingredient in weight loss.

Lose Weight with the Food Pyramid – Vegetables

The food pyramid recommends 2-3 cups daily of raw or cooked vegetables, or vegetable juice. However, when eating green leafy vegetables such as spinach, romaine or endive, two cups count as a one-cup serving. For weight loss purposes, we want to avoid starchy vegetables like corn and potatoes. You should focus on eating as many shaded green and orange vegetables (like carrots and winter squash) as possible.

Lose Weight with the Food Pyramid – Fruits

High in fiber and vitamins, fruits are very valuable to weight loss – and they can be faded in place of more fattening foods for desserts and treats. The food pyramid recommends 1-2 cups of fruit per day. While the USDA says fruit can be fresh, canned, frozen or dried, fresh fruit is the best choice to help lose weight. At all costs, avoid syrupy canned fruit – if you must exercise canned, make sure that it’s packed in water with no added sugar. Dried fruit is good and convenient, but it’s easy eat too much of it – a ½ cup serving of dried fruit counts as a 1 cup serving of fresh. Of the ‘portion sized’ fruits, such as bananas, apples, pears and oranges, 1 medium fruit is generally acceptable as a 1 cup fragment.

Lose Weight with the Food Pyramid – Milk

The food pyramid says the 3 cups of milk daily are necessary to meet our calcium needs. If you can’t consume milk, you should be using a milk-substitute that provides an equivalent amount of calcium. Fat-free dairy products are best for those that want to lose weight. Well-behaved choices are skim milk, puddings or ice milk made with skim milk, and fat-free yogurts and cottage cheeses. If you resolve to occupy milk products which are not fat free, the fat content will add to your ‘discretionary calories’ which I’ll discuss a little more fully at the end.

Lose Weight with the Food Pyramid – Meat and Beans

This is a large group, including meat, poultry, fish, dried beans or peas, eggs, nuts and seeds. To lose weight, we must stick with lean and low-fat choices – poultry and fish are best, but lean pork and beef have their residence. Avoid red meat – no more than once or twice a week. We get a lot of heart-healthy oils from fish, nuts and seeds, so don’t forget to include them in your diet. The food pyramid recommends 5-6 ‘ounce equivalent’ portions – that would be 1 ounce of meat, poultry or fish, ¼ cup of cooked beans or peas (from dry), one egg, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or a ½ ounce of nuts or seeds. An easy draw to measure serving size – a piece of meat, fish or poultry the size of a regular deck of cards is about 3 ounces.

Lose Weight with the Food Pyramid – Fats, Oils and Discretionary Calories

The last section of the food pyramid is fats and oils. Most people receive their daily allotment of fats and oils in the foods they eat. For most of us, it should be equivalent to about 5-6 teaspoons, or 2 tablespoons. Anymore than that goes to what the food pyramid calls ‘discretionary calories’. Now, the goal of this weight loss plan is to NOT count calories – so my goal is to not have any discretionary calories. However, if you must add fat (in the create of mayonnaise, butter, salad dressing, cheese etc) in order to lose weight you should keep it under 100 calories a day.

Lose Weight with the Food Pyramid – Adding It All Up

If you stick to the portions recommended by the Food Pyramid, make sure that you pick all healthy options like whole grains, fat-free dairy and lean meat varieties, and maintain discretionary calories under 100 per day, you’ll be taking in an average of 1200-1400 calories daily. One pickle with diets that count calories feeling of failure when you go over the limit, but with this plan based on the food pyramid, there is no daily calorie limit. Instead, it’s the accomplish over time of eating healthy and low fat that keeps you in a healthy calorie range. When combined with moderate exercise, this allows you to lose weight. (By moderate spend, I mean ½ hour to 1 hour of walking or other light aerobic spend 3-5 times a week) And, when weight loss goals are met, you can increase portions – add an extra sandwich, or throw in that ice cream cone! – and find the right balance to aid you contain a healthy weight. That’s the best part. This isn’t just a weight loss plan, it’s a healthy, sensible plan for eating – for the rest of your life.

Source: Inside the Pyramid, MyPyramid.gov – United States Department of Agriculture

September 4th, 2010 | Posted in Healthy Eating Habits | Tagged with , , , | No Comments »

September 3rd, 2010

Helping Your Child Cope with Puberty

I’m sure you thought you had it rough when your new baby was born-constant crying, lack of sleep, no personal life, 24 hour attention, nerves on end-well, if you don’t know anything yet until your child reaches teenage years and the beginnings of puberty. For me, this was a more trying time than anything because at this point, your child has a mind of their enjoy and complex feelings. With my daughter now at 16, I assume I’m through the bulk of it. She has been acclimated to the changes for several years now and coming out of it just splendidly and much to my relief. As a parent, there are a multitude of health concerns that your pubescent child will need to know about and understand. Some of this is taught in public schools, but you should assume nothing and take it upon yourself to help your child through the changes their body is going through and the emotional problems that accompany those changes. Here are a few tips to help you out during this time, many of them presented by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and many from my personal experience.

1. Promote a healthy lifestyle in your home. Your children learn first and foremost through example. Develop and follow regular sleep patterns and eating schedules. Eat healthy food and encourage your child to quit away from junk food as much as possible, not only for overall health, but for healthy skin during this time as well.

2. Talk about how distinguished it is to have excellent personal hygiene. During puberty, the sweat glands develop and become more active. This is also a time when peers will point out any bad hygiene and this will cause emotional problems as well.

3. Embarrassment and self care for issues are common at this time. Your child will be embarrassed about the changes their bodies are going through, especially if they develop early or late in comparison with their friends or their peers in general. They need reassurance at this time that everything is alright, everyone develops at their own pace, and it’s all completely normal.

4. Teasing or joking about your child’s changes during this time should be light, unexcited and followed up with a serious statement or show of affection. This is your call. Many will say to never joke nor tease, but there are levels of everything and humor can often be dilapidated to lighten trying situations. Snort embarrassing stories about yourself to show that they are not alone and you went through the same situations if not worse.

5. Help your child identify problems on their absorb. Show them the signs they make that give away their mood or reveal that they have something on their mind. Once they can recognize that they have a temporary predicament, they can take the appropriate steps to correct it.

6. Instruct your child skills to cope with problems and stress. Demonstrate them how to take a smash, breathe, and count back from 10. Go for walks or listen to music. Everything will be much better within the next 20 minutes.

7. Gain sure your child has a safe and wholesome hobby. They will need something to keep their minds focused in their downtime. They will want to spend increasing amounts of time alone, so they will need something to keep them busy at this time.

8. Don’t always rush to your child’s help. It will be your first instinct, but give them a tiny time to be alone. After 5 minutes, check on them and make sure that they know you are available should they need to talk about anything.

9. Set limits. Your child will want to be more and more independent and you must allow this to obvious degrees. Make sure your rules are fair and balanced and they have the best interests of your child in mind and that they are not set up for yourself personally to alleviate your worrying.

10. Talk with other parents about their experiences and their techniques. Learn from networking, your friends, and your neighbors.

These tips will help you in the most difficult time of child raising. The best way to be prepared is by feeding your mind with the knowledge of those before you.

September 3rd, 2010 | Posted in Healthy Skin Habits | Tagged with , , , | No Comments »

September 2nd, 2010

Transform Old Fitness Videos into Toddler-friendly Indoor Exercise


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For many parents with toddlers, finding time for a regular exercise routine is a serious challenge. Traditional fitness habits often don’t click with the new responsibilities and demands of parenthood. Instead of trying to get time around the hectic caregiver schedule, why not find ways to include the tot into your workout?

Fitness videos offer you the chance to structure an activity both you and your toddler will enjoy. Parent and Tot aerobic classes can be expensive and difficult to access. However, a slight patience and creativity can turn a dusty pile of forgotten exercise videos into a fun activity to fragment with your child. It objective takes a minute planning and a lot of patience. These steps will help you organize an exciting fitness play date for you and your toddler.

1. Pick a bright and fun fitness video

Go through your fitness video library and pick the titles with the bounciest music, the brightest colors and the most upbeat instructors. If you don’t have a back catalogue of utilize tapes, check your local library, thrift store or borrow some from friends. If you have a new tape, gawk it before you allotment it with your toddler. You will need to be familiar with how the exercises are generally structured to get the most out of your workout. Older tapes are just as good as new ones. General fitness tapes that offer fat body workouts are better than tapes that target specific body parts. High energy dance videos have a greater kid appeal than high focus yoga and pilates workouts. Try to come by shorter duration tapes – aim for forty minutes as your maximum running time.

2. Organize your shared workout space

Assemble all the materials you need to get the most out of your workout. Include an exercise or yoga mat, a towel and water (a bottle for you, a bottle for your pint-sized workout buddy). Clear away furniture if you need to make room. Check that the space is mild child-safe, and then add some extras to invent the workout toddler-friendly. Bring in some balls, a toy drum, and soft bricks – whatever toys your toddler might like to use when dancing or playing with rhythm. If your child is still unsteady on his feet, keep a sturdy piece of cruising furniture nearby – sofa edge or immense ottoman – so he can use it to steady himself while standing. Also, set a small box or bag of extra toys and books up high and out of explore, to pass to your toddler when she gets bored.

3. Play on the mat

Before beginning the tape, catch a few minutes to sit on the mat with your child. Stretch, wiggle, let her climb on your lap and stomach – secure comfortable being down at your child’s level, and take the opportunity to warm and stretch some muscles. When you are feeling ready and your child is interested in what you are doing, start the fitness video.

4. Follow the hobble and spirit of the exercises, not necessarily the precise moves

Instead of considering the video a fitness prescription, contemplate of it as a starting point. Follow the exercises on the tape, and encourage your child to dance along. If he can stand, have them wiggle or dance with you. If she is more comfortable sitting, give her a drum or rattle to play with the music. If the video you are using offers different modifications for fitness levels, stick with the simplest moves. You will need to stay aware of what your toddler is doing, so concentrate on the child and give the exercises your secondary focus. That said, don’t stop exciting, and cheer your child to keep moving too. Use the exercises on the video as a template. Be prepared to modify exercises to include your child – pick up a grumpy child and do a simple cardio-salsa with your shrimp pal on your hip, or change an arm stretch to reach out and tickle your baby. The important thing is to be active and to encourage your child to be active with you. Talk to your child constantly as you workout, instruct along with the music or the instructor countdowns. Invent aerobic dancing as fun as possible for both of you. Be patient, with the child and with yourself. Your fitness results may lift longer to achieve, but the physical fitness habits will benefit you and your toddler for a lifetime.

You will need to improvise some movements and follow your child’s lead. Don’t force her to withhold dancing with you if she stops having fun – instead break out the emergency toy stash and let her play beside your workout area. Unless there is a dire situation, keep going yourself until you conclude the video. Often the toddler will rejoin you for the stretching and cool-down allotment, when you can roll around on the floor together.

As with any exercise program, check with your doctor before you start. Listen to your body, and respect any pain or misfortune. You do not want to strain or injure yourself; you want to be able to share gentle exercise with your child. Occupy every precaution to ensure you both savor the activity.

5. Conclude up with a healthy snack

Have a favorite piece of fruit ready to celebrate the end of your “dance party”, and wash it down with plenty of water – both for you and your little workout buddy. Praise him for his energy and his participation. Keep your enthusiasm up, and work to make exercise a positive and enjoyable part of your child’s routine.

Making family fitness a fun, regular part of your toddler’s life is a great gift. Parents can increase their general physical activity and build healthy habits of their own. Above all, sharing the joy of exercise and movement creates positive early impressions of fitness for your child, and helps set you as a positive role model for physical activity. Schedule several regular “dance parties” a week, and both you and your toddler will love the results.

September 2nd, 2010 | Posted in Fitness Habits | Tagged with , , , , | No Comments »

September 1st, 2010

Good Eating Habits

1. It is often claimed by wise men that the road to good health lies in eating well, sleeping well and being positive for a major part of one’s life. The first part of the phrase, that is, eating well, denotes that not only is it important for one to imbibe healthy, hygienic and nutritious food but it is equally important to maintain healthy eating habits. By the term eating habits, it is meant to indicate the plan we eat our food rather than what we eat, for it is believed that our surroundings and our manner of eating contribute equally to our health as would a plate of well-prepared and nutritious food. Our surroundings add to our frame of mind where as our posture and stance while eating are decisive factors for trustworthy digestion and avoidance of mishaps due to choking during meal times. My belief in the above mentioned factors stemmed from observing an elderly relative of mine who lived to celebrate his ninetieth birthday; he would have his dinner in solitude, chewing each morsel with concentration, for what seemed to me, at least 32 times. In addition, he consciously led a well-regulated and stress free life, believed in the philosophy of vegetarianism and finished his dinner before sunset.

2. The prescription of calmness and tranquillity during meal times has been made by many philosophers, the most notable among them being the ayurvedic physicians. The logic behind this is that food eaten in peaceful surroundings is masticated well, thus facilitating good digestion. Our ancient tradition calls for us to chew each morsel of our food at least 32 times as a slow but a obvious shot way to reliable health. It can also be common as a good recipe for disciplining our mind and body.

3. The process of slow eating was once popular in Germany as a method of dieting, as when the food is chewed thoroughly, our stomach takes that great more time to digest it and that delays the reflex signal to the brain long before the stage of overeating is reached. Therefore, humdrum eating is in itself a way to avoid being overweight.

4. Where superior eating habits are beneficial to us in a number of ways, bad eating habits, on the contrary, are equally edifying of causing our body irreparable afflict. Stress is the main enemy of good digestion as being under stress activates the neurotransmitters located in our gut, due to which we feel queasy and hence suffer from various stomach ailments, improper digestion being one of them. It is also essential to focus totally on our food during meal times and distractions like TV should be avoided to ensure proper chewing of food and satisfactory effect of salivary juices on it.

September 1st, 2010 | Posted in Healthy Skin Habits | Tagged with , , | No Comments »

August 31st, 2010

A Fitness Expert Shares How to Get Better Results from Your Workout

We are continuing our series on exercise, fitness and health with Scott Colby, an internationally known fitness professional, public speaker and author of “Abs Uncrunched.” Scott continues to section with us information on how to lose fat. He is also the owner of AbsUncrunched.com, TheAbsExpert.com and creator of the on line teleseminar series, My Ultimate Body Makeover and Amazing Abs Formula. He has helped thousands of people around the world get fit, lose stomach fat and exercise more effectively. In this interview he talks with me about making the most of your exercise, getting better results from your exercise and moving beyond beginner exercises, all in one step.

Lisa: Scott, many people complain that they don’t have enough time to work out or that they want to get more from their exercises. Everyone wants to get the most accomplished in the least amount of time, and that includes workouts. How can we get the most form it and get better results.

Scott: If you want to get better results, transition to more difficult exercises and get the most done in less time, there is one trick that will do it all. This trick starts with bodyweight exercises.

Lisa: Many fitness experts say that bodyweight exercises are an excellent tool for getting the most of your routine. But what trick can make these exercises even better?

Scott: To salvage better results in less time, and not to mention the ability to target your abs even more when working out, try this one extra movement, Raise your hands!

Lisa: Why is the placement of your hands so important? How can it invent a difference?

Scott: Basically, it has to do with the position of your arms while doing other movements. For example, while doing squats, you may have your arm bent at the elbow and curled towards your body. Try lifting your arms straight above your head instead. For one thing, when your arms are positioned higher your abs muscles are automatically engaged. When your hands are in other positions such as on your hips, your body is not elongated and it does not work as hard.

Lisa: What are some exercises we can use this trick on to get better results?

Scott: A few exercises you can expend this trick on include squats, lunches, and step ups. It is an excellent way to move beyond beginner exercises and help you to get the most from your abdominal workout in the least amount of time. By lifting your arms above your head and keeping them straight it is a harder movement. It requires more effort, training you to work harder, getting more from the time you do spend working out and getting you ready for the next level of utilize.

Lisa: What if you are experienced at exercise? What do you do then?

Scott: Those experienced at exercise should try adding weights to this status by holding a dumb bell, medicine ball or by attached wrist band weights.

Lisa: Are there any added benefits to adding this movement?

Scott: As a result of raising your hands, it gets your heart rate up, it increases your metabolism and burns fat longer. Combining this trick with high intensity interval training and proper eating habits and you will burn tubby faster as well as increase your heart rate and metabolism, helping you to find the most from your workout, whether your goal is to flatten your stomach of simply to lose fat, in the least amount of time.

Lisa: Scott, thank you so powerful for sharing this idea with us. It is pretty simple, and if it’s more effective then we should all give it a try.

August 31st, 2010 | Posted in Fitness Habits | Tagged with , , , , | No Comments »

August 31st, 2010

Five Steps to that J-lo Glowing Skin


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Hi there every one..FP here to share my tips on how to have pretty skin that looks and feels natural.

1.) Cleanse with a gentle cleanser like cetaphil lotion or something gentle that suits your skin type. If you don’t know your skin type use cetaphil it works on all skin types and is super gentle can also be used as a makeup remover and eye originate remover.

2.) Skip toning if it’s winter and maybe use it in the summer…I say this b cuz toner is drying, if u must tone exhaust cold witch hazel ( maintain a bottle in fridge) and dilute a cotton ball with a bit of water before soaking with the hazel. Tap it around the t-zone area of your face- follow with moisturizer. In daytime use a moisturizer with an SPF in it. At night utilize vitamin e oil around the eyes and lip area.

3.) At night, try not to sleep on your face. Needless to say this smushes you skin and makes wrinkles and crinkles which can become permanent and premature also creating and uneven symmetry in facial features which can result in that lazy eye or one look bigger than the other look you see on some people in photos. ( This is the hardest part because I usually wind up on my side with half my face in the pillow)

4.) Use make up only where u need it. Highlighters and concealors are mainly for the spot around the eyes, and chin area. Most black people have uneven and shadow like skin tones around the chin, cheeks and eye area, so I say use foundations, primers, and concealors to match your skin tone to the skin color that is the majority of your face. One word when using make-up..BLEND!

5.) Playtime begins..rep you bronzer and a big blush brush made of natural hair, and sweep lightly the cheekbones and other areas you want to glow. Consume a kohl black eyliner around the upper and lower lids..smudge lightly with ring finger add a bit of jet black or dark brown mascara ( cover girl lash blast and loreal are my drugstore fav’s)…lastly slick on your favorite pinky plum to sheer nude lipgloss…( I love Juicy Tubes by Lancome..all the colors..cuz it lasts and is so shiny w/o being sticky or gloppy) it’s worth it sometimes to splurge on some products… mine is department store lipglosses…but most everything else I get at drug stores and health food stores such as whole foods.

P.S.
Stay away from smoke and alcohol it ages the skin swiftly and gives skin a stale peep instead of fresh and glowy.

Drink water and eat fish occasionally when your skin feels less than plump and moist.

Get 7- 8 hours of sleep if you want to see suitable. If you want to spy objective okay and tired sleep 3-6 hours at night.

Eat your greens and stay away from all foods that come in packages and are located on the inner aisles of the grocery market- Shop only the perimeter where there is mostly beget and other fresher fare to choose from.

and Finalmente…..Break a sweat more days than not… peace and worship….:)

August 31st, 2010 | Posted in Healthy Skin Habits | Tagged with , , , , | No Comments »

August 30th, 2010

Top 10 Diet Plans for Weight Loss

These top 10 diet plans for weight loss can give someone hope where hope is less found. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t peer at mirrors every time you pass one. Don’t listen to the negative thoughts you may have about possibly being overweight. Treat yourself to a new you with these top ten picks of diet plans for weight loss, as we begin with number 10.

10. Diet.com is an online group that helps with the behavioral arrive to losing weight. Diet.com doesn’t stop there, they offer nutritional education through many intelligent minds. Also, a behavioral quiz is found at Diet.com . A website that requires you to sign-up, but it’s all free so what do you have to lose? Bad habits of looking at weight loss in the wrong angle. The benefits can be countless for those who become enthusiastic in Diet.com, but there is only one way to get there. Diet.com shares another plan for those seeking to lose weight, the understanding of self-awareness.

9. For the men, and women, that want to change their 12 pack into a 6 pack, Tom Venuto’s Burn the Fat plan comes in handy. Tom shares twenty years of experience in his diet plan, and muscle booster. He shows how to turn some fleshy into muscle, and shed the remainder of unhealthy fat for good. This is perfect for those who would rather not choose diet pills, or supplements, and keeping a metabolism at bay. Tom is a specialist, and knowledged in “physical” science when it comes to the human body. Burn the Beefy, Feed the Muscle 337 page book by Tom Ventuno has been rated high on those who have experienced Tom’s weight loss plan and muscle builder first hand. For offering a life-time diet plan that does so much in only a couple of days a week results in the rightful spot on the list of the top ten diet plans.

8.Diet Watch is another good diet and weight loss plan. Diet Watch offers many different paths to take, not unprejudiced one, since they take in story that each body is different. They even have a 12 week emotional eating course, that’s right ladies and some men. For 12 weeks you can find out how to lose weight and remain at bay emotionally. Men usually don’t care what they look like (I am distinct I will get feedback for this one), but some men that do care about their health enough to try. Diet Discover is more than objective a meal plan, as you will take note after visiting DietWatch.com.

7. What about those who have more to assume topping weight loss? Lesley Ellis offers the 7-Day Detox Diet PlanChange Your Eating Habits for Life. This smaller than most books (192 pages) is a nice addition to anyone’s battle against weight gain. Don’t let the weight win, tackle it for life by using this diet conception for weight loss. You can accept this book at TheFind.com in the Beauty section, or at Borders.com. No matter where you find it, the price seems to always be under $15, an affordable way to find a diet idea to help lose weight.

6. Medifast offers a plan for those 75 or more pounds overweight, and not suggested for those only a small overweight. Medifast is for hard-core issues on weight loss, as they offer a diet plan that has already recieved much positive feedback thus far. The Medifast Medical Group authored a book that they offer to benefit your progress, including upcoming 5% discounts for VIP users. With Medifast’s online community, online meal planner, and online weight loss tracker, they unprejudiced made life more simple for everyone. You can gather your meals by ordering online at Medifast1.com . Medifast, a opinion that covers all the corners in successful diet and weight loss.

Top 5 Diet Plans for Weight Loss

5. Retain Your Brain, Reshape Your BodyThe Breakthrough Brain-Changing Weight Loss Plan by Georgia Andrianopoulos is a substantial plan to incorporate into any diet and weight loss goal. The human brain can be quite a playground at times, especially when it spots a donut. Like Homer, the brain is hard to tame, doh! But with this book, you can gather new knowledge about how your brain works, and how to rearrange your temptations towards food. This book goes for $16.95 at many book stores, and can be found online at Amazon.com.

4. For the children and teens, the Trim Kids diet and weight loss plan is excellent! Parents, your world is about to change when you visit TrimKids.com. Here Trim Kids helps guide you to a better life-style for your children or teens, but you have to help them through it somewhat since your job is far from over as a parent. In my research, I have not found the main website for this book, however I have found the book itself at Amazon.com. Trim Kids A Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight by Melinda S. Sothern, T. Kristian von Almen, and Heidi Schumacher had been written in 2003. Throughout the last five years, this book has become valuable ten times over, as it is rated high on the list of weight loss success for children and teens. At Amazon, they offer this book for $12.95, not too bad for gathering a tall 12 week weight loss plan for the little ones to easily complete. The children are important, as Trim Kids makes it on the top ten diet plans with the youth at mind.

3.Nutrisystem meal replacement program works, but you have to understand to follow the path, the guide, the schedule. Meals go for approximately $9 a day (what you would use regularly for food not on sale). Nutrisystem is ahead of the game since their notion surrounds the opinion of the Glycemic Index (described above). For those wishing to work with the Glycemic Index, but do not know exactly how to do it, or the support and educational areas lack in their library, perhaps Nutrisystem may help. They pretty much bag you there through their lessons, meal plans, and daily routines to follow. Don’t worry, it sounds like a lot, but is easier than it sounds.

2.Glycemic Index diet and weight loss understanding makes it on the top ten list of better health since it focuses on the inside, and not so much as the outside. It goes relieve to the bare fact that “you are what you eat”. Glycemic Index (GI, or G.i.) is the measure of carbs that breaks down glucose that is released into the bloodstream. The trick is high in GI, low in carbs. A great book came out on the Glycemic Index called Glycemic Index by Rick Gallop, as others have found that focusing on the GI is important when wanting to lose weight. The Glycemic connection, become aware and share the latest in diet plans (through the Glycemic Index).

1. The first plan in the top ten diet plans for weight loss goes to the Common Sense Diet plan. This plan was created for the people, by the people. The Celebrated Sense Diet plan is quite simple if you know how to discipline yourself. First switch in habits would be to place one slice of bread on your plate, instead of two. Fill your glass half-way instead of full. Avoid the cookie, icecream, and soda isle as much as you can. Simple everyday knowledge that may require reminding to successfully reach. Did you know that gum stays in your system longer than other stomach guests, and adds pounds via sugars, and so on? Another fun fact when you have the hasten to chew. It’s all about curving your appetite away from those little extras in life that contribute to possible weight gain, another part of the Common Sense Diet Understanding.

Exercise is valuable for any human body since it keeps muscles alive, and builds other areas of the human body that can make an old man move faster. The Common Sense Diet plan requires a little exercise. For those who have the habit of asking others to score them things, perhaps taking charge of the legs may help. In other words, get up and do it yourself. Stop giving your body a reason to become the world’s greatest couch potato record breaker of all time. A dinky exercise counts when introducing any diet plan, unprejudiced another rule to the Common Sense Diet idea. The Accepted Sense Diet plan, putting the current sense succor into the diet.

Weight loss can make or break the crystal ball of a person’s health. If you view something, and it does not work for you, do not give up. Simply try something original until you have located the true diet opinion for your body. Keep moving, even if you tried countless plans, for one day you will meet your match in diet plans for weight loss.

August 30th, 2010 | Posted in Exercise Habits | Tagged with , , | No Comments »

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