Basic fitness and health tips.

• Quite Smoking:  Smoking is very harmful to your health.
• Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts.
• Drinking 8 glasses of water a day is important to your health, your normal diet and to help lose weight. Water is necessary for the metabolism of your stored fat. Weight loss cannot occur without an active metabolism which requires large quantities of water. Another way to use water to lose weight is to drink a large glass of ice water just before meals. The cold causes your stomach to shrink slightly which will make you feel full faster.
• Eat small meals slowly & often. Graze healthily.
• Aerobic, swimming, cycling, walking and jumping are all considered aerobic activities. These should be performed daily atleast for 20 to 30 mintues.
• You can walk almost anywhere at almost any time. It’s one of the easiest ways to be physically active. Find out how to start your walking program, what benefits you’ll get from walking and how to warm up correctly before you hit the road.
• Crash dieting, over exercising and fasting will slow down your metabolism.
• Avoid eye strain by looking away from the screen and focus on something in the distance, then focus on something close to you, do this now and whilst at work. Good excuse if you get caught looking at somebody, just tell him or her you’re preventing eyestrain.
• To lose weight quickly, never skip a meal. Your first meal after waking starts your metabolism. Your metabolism then speeds up for about eight hours and then starts slowing down until you go to sleep when it goes to low until you wake and eat and start the cycle again. Skip breakfast and your metabolism doesn’t get started until lunch time. You’ve just missed three or four hours of fat burning time. When you skip meals during the day, your metabolism also slows down. Weight loss through the burning of stored fat is all about eating enough of the right kinds of foods so you stay full and your metabolism stays as high as possible. Remember, if you feel hungry, your metabolism slows down. Stay full with healthy, nonfattening foods and your metabolism will continue to burn your stored fat as fast as your body will allow.

Wrinkle Remover

Green Thompson seedless grapes! It has one of the ingredients in those big time expensive wrinkle creams.

All you do is cut a grape in half and gently crush it on your face and neck. Make sure that you get the “crows-feet” and the lines around your mouth. Leave it on for twenty minutes or so and rinse with tepid water and pat dry.

Repeat every day and before you know it… those nasty old lines will be hard to find!Don’t forget to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. And… eat veggies rich in Vitamin A, such as carrots, celery and spinach.
If you can, get 8 hours of sleep every night.

Beautiful Feet

Everyone wants to have smooth skin and Beautiful Feet

Take 1 cup Lemon Juice, Cinnamon (for smell), 2 tablespoons (or less) olive oil, 1/4 cup of milk, and water you can make a wash that leaves skin refreshed and fragrant (the amount of water does not matter).

If you do not like the cinnamon smell you can replace it with another spice, perfume, or flower petals such as roses.

After you make it, you can put it in a tub were you can soak your feet or body.

Next dry your feet or rinse them with water and a MILD soap.

Dark Circles Under Eyes…

To lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes.

Wipe off the residue and apply an eye cream.

After a few weeks of doing this your skin will be silky smooth.

There’s more to a good first impression than meets the eye. Unfortunately, humans are quick to judge. You can completely blow it if you don’t consider everything, including who you’re meeting and how they will perceive you in the environment where the introductions will take place.

If the first impression is bad, you won’t always have a second chance. So how do you put your best foot forward and impress others with your good looks, grace and charm? There are several ways to show that you’re not only approachable, but quite charismatic.

Appearance

Let’s face it, your appearance is the first thing people are going to notice about you. The importance is unmistakable. You have just seconds to grab that person’s attention and show off your finer points.

Dress appropriately for the occasion and the weather.  If you’re headed to a business meeting or job interview, keep your attire professional and simple. On the other hand, a party or night out on the town may call for something fun and just a little flirty. If you’re not certain how to dress, err on the side of caution and be conservative.

Keep your makeup fresh and natural-looking. People need to see the “real” you and if there’s a hint of deception, you’ll strike out. Choose a hairstyle that compliments your clothing and flatters your face. A style that’s neat and low-maintenance usually does the trick.

Body Language

Good posture is very important, so stand up straight and be confident. To be sociable, open up and smile. Make eye contact and show interest in your new acquaintance. A short but firm handshake is always welcome and crucial in business settings.

Tension and nervousness emerge in several ways, such as facial expressions and gestures. There’s nothing more disconcerting than meeting someone who obviously doesn’t want to be there — that is not the first impression you want to make. Keep your hands off of your hips and don’t cross them. Relax, don’t fidget, and be yourself.

Content and Conversation

Believe it or not, what you say and how you say it are not nearly as important as appearance and body language, but don’t discount it. Carry on an intelligent conversation and show interest in what the other person has to say. If you make them feel well-received and worthy, chances are, that will be reciprocated.

Don’t sweat it. To make the best first impression, prepare yourself and focus on good things. Be optimistic, enjoy yourself and have fun. Isn’t that what life’s all about?

You don’t need to spend a fortune on pricey makeup and professional salon services. We’ve got just what you need with basic guides and advanced techniques that just about anyone can use. Update your routine with the latest beauty tips and tricks to help you solve nagging problems and boost your self-confidence

How To Make Your Lips Plumper

For many women, their lips are a source of disappointment. With all of the ads in magazines and on TV using models that have full, sexy lips — those of us with thin lips feel that we have somehow got shortchanged. Not anymore!

Easy Tips for Fuller Lips

Here are some simple tips & tricks to make your lips appear fuller with cosmetics. Check out our tips below to fool the eye and you’ll soon have lips that look luscious, plump and kissable.

Keep Your Lips Conditioned

Prevent dry, cracked lips with lip balm. Use lip balm with SPF when you are out in the daylight hours and before you go to bed at night to keep them in tip-top shape.

Prepare Your Base

For best results, start by applying foundation on your lips when you are putting on your make up. Set it with translucent loose or pressed powder. This will make a good base.

Make Your Lips Larger

Outline your lips with a lip liner that is closest to the color of your lips. Use the liner just beyond your lip line, increasing the size a little. Add some balance, shape and curves to the upper and lower lip if desired.

Fill Them In

Fill in your lips with a metallic lipstick  using a brush, including the area you extended with the lip liner.

Use Lip Gloss

Add a finishing touch with lip gloss. The gloss will add depth and give the appearance of plumper, fatter lips. Take it along in your purse for quick touch-ups.

Extra Kissable Lips

For a poufy pout, apply a glob of petroleum jelly onto lips and gently rub in with a soft toothbrush. Follow up with lip balm.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Beside having amazing healing properties, apple cider vinegar keeps skin supple. It’s heavy concentration of enzymes helps peel off dead skin cells. It breaks down fat and helps food digest properly.

Carrots
Maintain the outer layer of the skin to prevent premature aging. What you’ll find in is the same as you’ll get in Retin A.

Cheese
To ensure a happy smile, add a slice or two of hard cheeese into your diet. Choose Swiss, cheddar, or gouda to block bacteria in the mouth and prevent cavities.

Citrus Fruits
Hold the skin cells together by forming collagen. Collagen cannot be added to the skin topically, which is why fruits and fruit juices are such an important part of the daily diet.

Cranberries
Keep urinary tract lining healthy.

Garlic
Helps combat wrinkles and restores tissue.

Nonfat Yogurt
High in calcium, which keeps your smile white and your teeth cavity-free.

Sweet Potatoes Vitamin A is known to be a remarkable anti-wrinkling agent. Sweet potatoes are full of this important vitamin. The pleasing results is clearer, smoother skin.

Tomatoes
These “love apples” will keep you loving your skin. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.

Wheat Germ
If you want to get rid of pimples quickly and efficiently, make sure to include two or three tablespoons a day in your diet. Add it to cereal, yogurt, and cottage cheese.

You should choose foods that you enjoy, of course, but you need to include the following:

Vegetables
Three to five servings daily. Try to include one serving of raw, leafy greens.

Meat
Have no more than three three ounce servings a day. Cut off all fat. Try to make two servings of turkey or chicken. One serving of fish a day is ideal.

Fruits
Two to three servings daily. A 1/2 cup of chopped or sliced fruit is a serving.

Dairy
At least two servings daily. A serving would be eight ounces of milk or yogurt.

Fats
Salad dressing, cooking oil, butter, and mayonnaise should be limited to two servings a day.

We should learn to pick out the best foods from our normal daily diet and use them to form the basis for our new healthy eating habits. This gives familiarity to the new way of eating rather than the idea that the individual is “on a diet”. Trying to lose weight on a specific diet relays the message that it will end some day. When a diet ends many people gain back most, if not all the weight lost.

Try not to have too much variety of food for each meal

Evidence has shown humans always consume more food and calories when there is more choice on offer. For example, have you ever been at a buffet style meal where its “eat all you can” no matter how much we eat there always seems to be room for one more item maybe that delicious looking dessert or ice cream!

Many diets in the past have been based on a similar principle, the cabbage soup diet, the vegetable diet, etc.

Health experts state always eat a balanced diet which may seem to contradict the above statement. However, it is possible to select a balanced diet and lower amount of choice for each meal by slowly eating regular small meals.

Be careful what you add to healthy foods

Salads are one of the best foods for losing weight, they very popular for many dieters trying to lose the weight fast. The problem is people often add sauces or creams to add taste to an otherwise bland food. Mayonnaise is a common addition to salads but it is very high in calories and fat and a salad with too much Mayonnaise can be just as high in calories than some of the worst weight loss foods.

Baked potatoes are also a great food to help lose weight when part of a small, low calorie meal but again, some people spoil this great example by adding tons of butter. Filling a baked potato with baked beans or cottage cheese is probably the best way to add taste and more nutrition to this low calorie food.

The idea is when choosing the best foods to help lose weight try not to neutralize the food’s possible weight loss benefits, be careful with what you add!

After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable. Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location.  Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily. 

Your basic emergency kit should include:

• Water – one gallon per person per day
• Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
• Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
• Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
• First Aid kit & instructions
• A copy of important documents & phone numbers
• Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
• Heavy work gloves
• Disposable camera
• Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification 
• Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
• Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords.
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
• Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.

A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly.  Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.

That’s certainly the case in the world of sports and fitness, where decades of research have increased our knowledge of how the body works and how best to train it.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we’ve seen the end of whacky exercise ideas or outlandish weight-loss schemes (e.g., The Hollywood Diet, Electric Muscle Stimulation machines).

But to show you just how far we’ve come, here are the top five worst fitness ideas of all time: 

1. Dehydration A common, pre-20th century belief was that you should withhold water or you’d get too heavy or sick.

2. Recreational drug use during competition In 1869 cyclists were known to use ‘’speed balls” of heroin and cocaine to increase endurance. The use of caffeine, alcohol, nitroglycerin, ether, strychnine and opium also was common among athletes in the late 19th century.

3. All-potato diet Early 20th century scientist Horace Fletcher pushed this, along with excessive mastication of food – ”chewing your way to health.”

4. Physics for the bowels Applied by early 18th-century British trainers

5. Vibrating belts that proponents claimed would shake weight off

Take a good look at how you’re sitting right now. Are your shoulders slouched? Is your back hunched?

Poor posture is more than bad for your back; it can be bad for your disposition. Better posture allows you to relax your muscles, sit comfortably and reduce stress, movement therapists say.

With some 800 muscles in the body, even the simple act of sitting before the computer screen presents a complex situation.

In an attempt to improve our posture, many of us will sit up too rigidly. We overcompensate with an arched back and strained neck a position that’s impossible to hold for any length of time.

The key is to find that neutral position that will bring maximum comfort and the least stress. When you’re in that position, you will find it comfortable and easy to sustain.

So how can you tell if you’re in that ideal neutral position? When you combine awareness with gentle movement, you encounter stressed areas, which then can be corrected.

There are three exercises to get your posture perfect without ever leaving your chair.

But before you begin these exercises, first assess your seat and how you sit in it. Shift around on your chair, and try resting your buttocks at different spots on the seat. Experiment with sitting far forward on the chair without using the backrest. You may have to move your chair farther away from the desk.

As you sit upright without use of the backrest, resist the temptation to force yourself into a rigid position. Place your feet flat on the floor. Think about your back. Does it feel arched?

Next, intentionally slump your lower back; round your back and let your head drop forward. Slowly arch your lower back and bring your head up and shoulders back.

You’ve experienced the two extremes of slouching and arching. Sitting up straight is not about extremes. With feet flat on the floor, try to find a neutral place for your pelvis that lets you sit up tall yet doesn’t require you to work hard any muscle group.

Now that you’ve found that neutral posture, you’re ready for this short series of relaxation exercises. Think about your movements as you do them. Go slowly and easily and don’t force anything. If you encounter any discomfort, stop.

1. Pelvis Tilt

With your feet flat on the floor, tilt your pelvis forward so your lower back rounds, and then tip your pelvis backward so your lower back arches and your belly protrudes a little. Keep your neck, shoulders and stomach relaxed. Repeat several times slowly.

This will not only help relax your lower body but will further instruct you in finding that neutral pelvic position that is not tilted to either extreme and helps you sit up straight comfortably.

2. Basic Twist

Sit up straight on the forward part of the chair, pelvis in neutral position, feet flat on the floor. Slowly twist to the right side, turning your head in the same direction while keeping your shoulders relaxed along the way.

Observe how other muscles besides the twisting muscles near the spine jump into action. The right shoulder may rise up toward the ear or move backward. As you repeat, create more efficiency in the movement. Relax more of the body each time. Do the other side.

3. Basic Twist With Variation

Do the same slow twist to the right while turning the head all the way to the left. This is impossible to do with hunched shoulders. An excessive arch in the lower back will also make it a struggle.

Sit tall yet relaxed. Observe how the muscles around the shoulders and chest may want to force the motion.

As you repeat these exercises, efficiency and relaxation will improve and you never left your desk!

If you’re looking into weight-loss programs, the best one is both the easiest and the hardest: Change your lifestyle.

The Best Weight-Loss Programs

It all comes down to calories. If you eat 100 more food calories than you burn each day, you’ll gain about a pound a month. If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you slowly but surely will lose weight.

Figure out how many calories you should be taking in to maintain your current weight. The number can range from 1,600 calories a day for a sedentary older woman to 3,000 calories a day for an active young man.

Next, increase your physical activity to match or outburn the calories you take in every day. Also, plan your diet carefully to maximize nutrition while minimizing calories.

Lifestyle Obstacles to Weight Loss
Finally, begin your weight-loss program by carefully re-examining your life and recognizing some of the habits that can block weight loss. These include:

Make Smart Food Choices
Your food choices can also help determine the success of your weight-loss programs. Healthy and nutritious eating will include:

Last but not least, remember that lifestyle-based weight loss will occur more slowly than with fad diets, melting off only one or two pounds a month. But because you’ve changed the way you eat, you’ll be glad to hear that those pounds are far more likely to stay off.