Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Busy women can still lose weight

Women now a days lead a very busy life. They have to look after their career, family, and kids and this does not leave them any free time to take care about their self not mention that there is no spare time for exercise and fitness. In this hectic lifestyle they look for ways to stay fit and lose weight and turn to readymade delivered healthy meals to find the solution but this is not enough. Losing weight is much more than eating healthy meals, it is about planning, devotion and willpower to reach a goal that is not easy to get if you are not willing to do the sacrifices that it takes.
busy-women-can-lose-weight-1
Before losing your hopes, beware – there are still a lot of ways for busy women to lose weight. Whether you are working long hours or have to spend all your day looking after the house and the kids there are a number of weight loss tips that can help you get through this difficult and daunting process, the process that will make you look good but most importantly feel good.

Step 1: Do not start your day making weight loss pitfalls

weight loss
The majority of people skip breakfast because they do not have enough time in the morning to sit down and eat and because they think that by doing so they save calories and help their weight loss efforts. Well, the majority of people are wrong. Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight; on the contrary it will create 2 negative effects to your efforts. First it can slow down your metabolism and second it is proven that people who do not eat breakfast consume more calories during their other meals.
So, what can you do if you either do not have time to eat in the morning or you are not feeling hungry? You can start by eating something that you like (a fruit or energy bar) on your way to work, you can wake up 10 minutes earlier to create that extra time you need to have a bowl of cereals or you can combine the two i.e. eat an apple while you are preparing for work and have your cereals after you arrive at work. The solutions are simple all you need is determination from your part to set a plan and follow it.

Step 2: Enjoy your meals without interruptions

apple grapes
A few years back scientists discovered that it takes 20 minutes for the brain to receive the signal of fullness from the stomach. This means that if you eat in a hurry and probably in less than 20 minutes, you will consume more calories than needed because your brain will not be in position to signal the ‘stop’ sign to the stomach. What you need to do is devote at least 30 minutes per day for your launch time and ensure that during this time the only thing that you will do is enjoying your meal and nothing else. Eat slowly and feel every crunch and give enough time to your body to process the food. This is a healthy habit that once you get used to it you will realize its benefits.

Step 3: Protect yourself from foods temptations

busy-women-can-lose-weight-2
If you are working in an office with a lot of people then it is very common to get invitations for treats. One day is someone’s birthday, the other day someone got promoted and so on…These are invitations you cannot refuse but you can resist the temptations. A nice tip that can help you stay away is drinking a class of water before going for the treat. Water can fill up your stomach and reduce your appetite.

Step 4: Launch meetings are bad

In a recent survey many career women were asked “what is the main reason that women are getting bigger while at work” and the vast majority of them blamed launch meetings. It is a fact that during launch meetings you may end up eating much more than you need. What you need to do is be alert and protect your diet by being selective on what you eat and in what quantities you eat. Prefer to eat more salads and vegetables and less meat or curvy food. Do not let yourself get carried away from the conversation or from the quantities consumed by other people. Be conservative on your eating and rich full on your talking.

Step 5: No snacking is allowed after dinner

When you are home after a difficult day at work it is time to consider dinner. It would be nice if you could get prepared for dinner in advance and not wait the last minute to think what you are going to eat. This can have negative side effects to your diet because by nature you will end up selecting the easiest solution (ready made food or takeaway) which is the worst choice you can make for your diet. Instead try to plan your meals in advance and if this is not possible try to consume food items that are low in calories, fat and sugars. Take your last meal at least 3 hours before going for sleep and make sure that there is no snacking after that.
To sum up, women have a lot of reasons to take care of their body and looks. From what you have read above there is nothing difficult. All the weight loss for women are based on two simple principles: planning and implementation. To lose weight successfully you need to have a detail plan (what to eat, when to eat and in what quantities) and you need to have the willingness and patience to implement it.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Yoga Tree Pose

Good balance builds great posture and muscle strength. I suggest working on balance each week.

Things You'll Need:

  • Time
  • Determination
Instructions
  1. Today, lets focus on a yoga exercise...the tree pose. Stand up straight. Arms in prayer position. Bring the right leg up. The goal is for the right foot to be pressed against the left inner thigh. Hold this position. Then, lift arms over head towards the sky and hold again. Switch legs and repeat. This yoga workout increases stamina and strength in each leg. Don't give up! It will get easier each time!
  2. Now try it! Get into the tree position. Make prayer hands. Start with your right leg. Position your right foot on the left leg. Hold for 30 seconds. Extend arms overhead for another 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat. Complete 3-4 sets. Lengthen the body for better balance and posture!
  3. Add this to your yoga workout throughout each month. Look thinner and taller with the yoga tree pose!!


Tree pose..


If you're flexible enough you can try this advance tree pose.. which is half Lotus tree pose ~

place ur feet on your thighs ~ and do it vice versa !


-JOJO-

Bourjois limited edition Little Round Pot Blush

Give your cheeks a healthy glow with these Paris inspired blusher pots from Bourjois. Not only is the packaging très cute but each one is rose scented, so skin is left looking fabulous and smelling great.

PRICE : +/- £7.49

Why Europe country packaging so attractive??? I love this so much ~

-JOJO-

L'Agent by Agent Provocateur

Following on from the original Agent Provocateur scent comes the new head-turning L’Agent fragrance. Containing notes of rose mixed with heady amber and woody musks - Agent Provocateur have once again effortless merged scent and seduction.

PRICE : +/- £50

It smell like a refreshing body spray ~ but I love the bottle  =)

-JOJO-

Annick Goutal Un Matin d'Orage

Is there anything prettier than an Annick Goutal Butterfly Bottle? Of course not which is why we are saving our pennies for this new 2011 limited edition Matin d’Orage bottle with its frosted glass and gold floral embellishment.



Butterfly Bottle, +/= £104, with free mirror at selected Department stores.

The bottle look so cool ~

-JOJO-

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Cant get a good nite sleep?

1. Light
How it disrupts sleep: You probably already know that when you stay up late under bright lights, you interrupt your body's natural sleep-wake cycle, because light tricks your brain into remaining in daylight mode. Less well known is that the light from computer screens and iPads shining directly into your eyes at close range is especially troublesome. Why? Part of the problem is that the light from these devices is at the blue end of the spectrum, which scientists believe is particularly disruptive to circadian rhythms. Blue light, although common during the day, doesn't occur naturally during the evening.
Similarly, light shining in your eyes while you sleep -- even very small amounts coming from, say, a lighted clock -- makes your brain think it's morning and emerge out of deep sleep. Darkness triggers production of the hormone melatonin, the hormone that triggers sleepiness and the onset of sleep. Light prevents this release or shuts it off.
The evidence: Studies have long shown that shift workers and those who work late at night have poorer sleep and higher incidences of certain conditions associated with lack of sleep than those who regularly sleep eight or nine hours at night. A recent study published in Cancer Causes & Control, for example, found that the countries generating the most light at night have the highest incidence of breast cancer. And studies at the Light Research Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have found that the use of computers, lighted readers, and TVs at close range is tied to a higher incidence of sleeplessness.
Who's at risk: Everyone exposed to light shortly before bed or during sleep. Light is also bad for hearts, which need deep sleep to recharge. Surprising fact: Every year there's a spike in the number of heart attacks just after the start of daylight savings time in the spring.


What to do: Dim the lights and turn off all lighted screens at least an hour before bed. If you use a reading light, make sure it's not any brighter than necessary and doesn't shine in your eyes. Do a "light police" room check: Are there streetlights outside your windows? Use blackout curtains or shades and make sure they fit the windows tightly so no light seeps in around the edge. Charge laptops, phones, cameras, and other devices in another room. Use an alarm clock without a lighted dial, or turn it to face the wall. Keep a flashlight next to your bed and use it whenever you have to get up to use the bathroom or let the dog out -- and be careful to point it away from yourself so you don't look into the beam. Don't turn on an overhead light, and never use nightlights
If you must use a laptop, turn down the screen brightness as low as you can tolerate and prop the laptop as far away from you as your typing arms will reach. If you love eReaders, try a Kindle or other device with a screen that's not backlit.


2. Pain
How it disrupts sleep: Just about any kind of pain signals sent by the brain -- jaw pain, headaches, back pain, or arthritis, for example -- disrupt sleep, lifting you from the deep, restful REM cycle into lighter sleep or causing you to sleep fitfully and partially wake up over and over, which experts call "microarousals."
The evidence: Surveys of chronic pain sufferers reveal that between 60 and 90 percent sleep poorly. But many don't realize that their pain is the cause of their poor sleep. "This can become a vicious cycle," says Thomas Roth of the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, because "even partial sleep disruptions can increase sensitivity to pain." In other words, even mild pain causes poor sleep, which in turn leads to more pain
Who's at risk: Anyone who suffers chronically painful conditions such as arthritis, back or neck pain, jaw alignment problems, dental pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, or any other type of chronic pain.
Note: The pain doesn't need to be severe; studies show that even mild pain disrupts sleep. According to Roth, frequent microarousals can occur throughout the night without your being aware of them. The result is that you never attain deep REM cycle sleep and wake up feeling tired and grumpy, but you don't know why.

What to do: Take steps to treat your pain proactively. Using over-the-counter pain relief is a start, but it's always best to consult with a doctor and develop a comprehensive pain-relief program. For example, you may need physical therapy to combat back and neck pain, or migraine medication if your frequent headaches might be migraines. If bruxism (teeth grinding) or jaw clenching is leading to jaw pain, a mouth guard is often the solution.


3. Disrupted breathing
How it disrupts sleep: When oxygen flow to the brain is interrupted, your brain sends a warning signal that wakes you up either fully or partially, causing fitful sleep or preventing deep, restful sleep. The result: You wake feeling like you didn't sleep well, even if you were out for nine hours straight.
The best known version of this is apnea, which is a complete stoppage of breathing. A much more common and less recognized problem is upper airway resistance syndrome, or UARS.In UARS, structural blockages somewhere in the airway -- nasal congestion, your tongue falling back and blocking the back of the throat, or just having a smaller airway to begin with -- begin to interfere with the flow of air. What happens is that you wake up over and over again without knowing it, but the sleep interruptions last only a few seconds, too short to be detected by a standard sleep apnea test.
The evidence: "Even subtle levels of restricted breathing can lead to deep brain stimulation and arousals that prevent your ability to stay in deep sleep," says otolaryngologist Steven Park, an otolaryngologist and author of Sleep, Interrupted: A Physician Reveals the #1 Reason Why So Many of Us Are Sick and Tired. "You don't realize you're waking up, but your brain wakes up, so it's now in a light sleep. We see people who are waking up 100 times a night
Who's at risk: People who breathe through their mouths or have chronic congestion, such as from asthma or allergies. If you sleep more poorly on your back, this can be a sign of UARS, because when you sleep on your back your tongue is more likely to sink back and block the entrance to your throat. If you have a narrow face, a thin neck, or had extensive orthodontic work to correct a crowded jaw, you're likely to be at particular risk for UARS, says Park.

What to do: Start with some self-tests. Try using pillows to keep yourself on your side, or put a tennis ball in the back pocket of pajama bottoms, so you can't sleep on your back. If your nose often feels stuffed up, you might find relief with breathing strips, available at the drugstore. Another option is to try is a device designed to hold the nostrils open; brand names include Nozovent and Breathe with Eez. A saline nasal spray works for many people. If you have congestion due to seasonal allergies, try an antihistamine. (But if you take one that can act as a stimulant, such as Claritin or Sudafed, don't take it too close to bedtime.)
If none of these help, ask your doctor to refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, who can evaluate whether you're a candidate for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), a nasal mask that delivers air directly through your airways. An ENT can also determine whether tongue position is causing your UARS, in which case a dental device that pushes the jaw and tongue forward can help.
For many people, losing a few pounds can be the ticket to better sleep, since excess weight is linked to all kinds of breathing problems, including UARS, snoring, and sleep apnea.


4. Medications
How they disrupt sleep: Medications sometimes have side effects that trigger sleeplessness or interfere with deep sleep. Most common culprits: asthma medications, corticosteroids, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants.
Also, many ingredients in common medications act as stimulants. They may cause jitteriness during the day and trigger sleeplessness or prevent deep sleep at night. Example: Bronchodilators like albuterol and salmeterol, commonly used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and COPD, can amp you up and interfere with sleep, yet patients are often directed to use them at the end of the day. Other common medications that can interfere with sleep include SSRIs, such as Prozac and Paxil, and beta-blockers taken for high blood pressure and heart disease.
Sometimes medications sabotage your sleep indirectly. Diuretics, for example, can interfere with sleep by causing you to use the bathroom at night. Tagamet (generic name cimetidine), taken to control reflux and ulcers, can cause sleeplessness, especially when combined with caffeine or other medications. Like many side effects, sleeplessness from medications can affect some people but not others; Propecia, used to treat hair loss, and the antihistamine loratadine (brand name Claritin) are both known to cause sleeplessness in a percentage of those who take them. Some people react to opioid pain medications with rebound sleeplessness, feeling sleepy at first but then waking up and being unable to get back to sleep.
The evidence: Although every medication is tested for side effects during the FDA approval process, in many cases evidence of side effects mounts over time as a drug enters more widespread use. Albuterol has been widely reported to cause restlessness, nervousness, and sleeplessness. An article in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology also found that beta-blockers interfere with melatonin release.
Recent studies have found that Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, and other SSRIs affect sleep in a significant number of patients. If you're using an antidepressant, be sure to talk to your psychiatrist about any possible sleep problems and ask about alternative antidepressants if this is an issue.
Who's at risk: Those taking regular medication for a chronic condition such as asthma, depression, high blood pressure, or pain. A medication that you take once is less likely to cause an ongoing sleep issue because you take it for a short period of time and are more likely to notice the side effect. When you have a chronic condition, you're more likely to attribute any sleep problems to the condition rather than the treatment.


What to do: Any time you're prescribed a new medication, ask the doctor to discuss in detail all side effects you should be alert to. It's always a good idea to ask both the doctor and the pharmacist, "How will this medication affect my sleep?" Because some medications cause sleepiness, some interfere with sleep, and some do both, asking the question in an open-ended way will get you the most information.


5. Depression
How it disrupts sleep: Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms of depression, yet many people don't realize how closely related depression and poor sleep can be. Depression wreaks havoc with your natural biological rhythms; many people with depression have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, and they oversleep or get fatigued and nap during the day. Yet their sleep is fitful and of poor quality, so despite spending more hours ostensibly sleeping or trying to sleep, they don't feel well rested. Then at night, depression sufferers often have trouble maintaining a regular bedtime routine. Having slept late in the morning or napped late in the day, they may not feel sleepy. Anxiety, which often accompanies depression, may cause excessive late-night worry that contributes to sleeplessness.
The evidence: Because the relationship between depression and insomnia is a chicken-and-egg cycle, experts have studied it from both directions. Psychological studies have found that a high proportion of those with depression suffer from either sleeplessness or disrupted sleep, and a recent study by the University of Maryland found that 40 to 60 percent of people with sleeplessness show signs of depression.



-JOJO-

Saturday, February 12, 2011


Cleansing your skin is one of the most important and predominantly overlooked parts of your skincare routine. You spend untold amounts on moisturisers and serums, but then you penny-pinch when it comes to removing your make-up, cleaning and preparing your skin for all the good stuff you have spent the rest of your dosh on. Men are even worse – they don't have the slightest problem washing their faces and their, erm, nether parts with the same bar of soap! So why is it so important and what is the best way to get the job done?

Wipes – Very popular at the moment - particularly among the chronically lazy! Cleanser, toner, and eye make-up remover in one, wipes come in a pack of about 30 and you simply pull one out and wipe it over your face to remove the slap. Wipes are actually, all joking aside, quite handy for active people, gym enthusiasts, and those who wear minimal make-up.

Balms – Solid oil cleansers that need fairly warm water and some sort of cloth to remove them. These are great for congested and oily skins, but because the oils don't strip, they are good for dry skins too. The most famous of these are the Eve Lom and Amanda Lacey cleansers, though many companies are jumping into the fray: Liz Earle, Boots Time Delay, Lotions+Potions, Bobbi Brown, etc...

Creams – Traditional cleansers usually fall into this group and are most popular with those who have dry complexions, sensitive skins and with those who don't really like the feel of water on their face. They are like a cream-weight moisturiser, which is usually spread on to dry skin and then removed with tissues, cotton wool and sometimes rinsed.

Bar – Like a bar of soap without being a bar of soap. Great for anyone who has always used whatever is on the side of the tub. Some bars still contain soap and others are more like a solid cleansing cream in bar form. There is not a better or worse, again, it will simply be what works the best for you.

Lotions – More of a liquid weight than a cream. Most skins can use a lotion cleanser and they tend not to leave as much residue as a cream. Application of a lotion is much the same as a cream cleanser, too.

Gel – A clear cleanser normally packaged in a tube. You wet the skin first, add a bit of water to the product in your palm, foam it up and wash your face. There are a few gels that get applied neat to the skin, get worked around to dissolve make-up, and then get rinsed with no lathering involved.

Foam – Sort of like a gel, but the product is usually more creamy looking on taking it out of the tube or bottle. Foams are nearly always water-activated, applied to damp skin and rinsed.

Liquid foam – This is a fairly new cleansing format, usually best suited to slightly oilier skins. The product looks like water in the bottle. A pump is depressed and the liquid turns into a mousse as it comes from the spout. It's then used like foam on damp skin and rinsed off. Liquid foams are quite trendy at the moment because they are a bit different.

Cleansing water - This also looks like water, but there is no foaming involved. It most resembles an eye make-up remover and you use it on cotton wool to replace cleansing and toning. What you have in the bottle is very near to what is on the little cloths of the cleansing wipes. Very popular again with younger people, gym-o-philes and those who don't wear much make-up.

While you're out and about looking at cleansers, you'll find that some companies advocate what is called a 'double cleanse'. This may involve using a cream or lotion first to remover the make-up you have worn, then following that with a wash-off product like a bar, gel, or foam to clean your skin. The thought behind this is that the first one is likened to taking off your clothes and the second is like taking your bath/shower.

Personally, I would only ever recommend this if you wear a great deal of make-up or if you are neurotic about having clean skin. Keep in mind that over-cleansing the skin can create all sorts of untold problems: excess oil production, dry patches, redness, itching and, even worse, areas that are both dry and oily at the same time. Keep it gentle, but make sure that it is thorough and, above all else, choose a product that will ensure a better-than-even chance you will actually use it. Now, let's go clean up!


-JOJO-

Lingerie - The Dirty Dozen

You don’t need a special event as an excuse to indulge in beautiful lingerie but an occasion such as Valentine’s Day does encourage us to make more of an effort. A word of warning though, just because Saint Valentine had the heart to declare it a day of love all those years ago does not mean you have to opt for something that will look tacky on the day and even more so after the 14th has passed.

underwear in lace, satin, silk and chiffon is certain to make an appearance much more than once a year. So splash out and give your underwear drawer a makeover because regardless of whether you are single or loved up, you’re so worth it.



pamper urself with this cute and sexy lingerie..suitable for new year as well as the coming valentine ~


-JOJO-

How to Do Laughter Yoga?

Laughter yoga is a form of yoga that incorporates laughter to improve your health. Laughter has been proven in scientific studies to be beneficial to your mental and physical health(in addition you burn 3 calories every time you laugh). Here is how to do laughter yoga..

Instructions

You can do laughter yoga to improve your mental and physical health. Laughter has been proven to lower stress, fight disease, as well as lower your blood pressure.


 


During laughter yoga you also will do deep laughing. This type of laughter improves your ab muscles, strengthens your lungs, and also will boost your immune system to fight disease and infection. In these sessions first you start off with light laughter to warm up, then go into a deep laughing exercise. This type of exercise will also have you laughing more in your regular life.




-JOJO-

Friday, February 11, 2011

Child's pose

 
 
Today we're going to start of with basic yoga stretch : The Child Pose
 
Come down on to your mat on to the knees and take a very simple Child's Pose,
 
1. sitting on the tailbone, lower all the way down and lower the head down.
 
Make sure your sit bones are right on the heels.
 
2.Just move back and forth gently, drop the head down.
 
You can stay in this posture just finding the breath, inhaling through the nose, exhaling through the nose
 
You can stay there anywhere from a couple of seconds to a few minutes.

- This is good for your spine and your back

-JOJO-

The Basics of Yoga & Its Benefits



Yoga is more than just an exercise program. It is an ancient way of life that helps create a healthy mind and body through physical exercise, mental discipline and meditation.

Origin


  • Yoga originated in India in 3000 B.C. as a spiritual discipline meant to join the individual self with the divine or cosmic consciousness. Yoga masters, called yogis, originally developed yoga's mental and physical exercise to further this goal. Yoga came to America in the late 19th century but didn't become truly popular until the 1960s.

  • Features

  • Yoga's physical exercises, called asanas, keep the spine supple, tone the body and promote blood flow to the glands, tissues and organs. Yoga meditation helps discipline, calm and clarify the mind.

  • Benefits

  • Yoga helps alleviate symptoms from a variety of health issues including constipation, carpal tunnel syndrome, high cholesterol, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, diabetes and menopause. Yoga is also low-impact exercise that provides physical benefits, such as decreasing stress, increasing wellness and improving stamina.


  • I been doing yoga for almost 1 and half years ~ I had improved alot on my stability and flexibility.
    Although starting you may feel the sensation all around your muscles but remember Yoga is to heal not to hurt.. Do watever your body allow you to do..therefore for beginner is better to starts of with step by step and simple poses..


    STAY TUNE for more yoga poses reveal...

    -JOJO-

    Thursday, February 10, 2011

    What are the causes of brown skin spot ?

     
     
    Brown skin spots are referred to in lay terms as age spots, liver spots, freckles and sunspots. The spots most often occur on the temple area of the face or the backs of hands

    Types

  • Types of different brown spots on the skin are lentigo, melasma, moles, freckles, ephelids and seborrheic keratoses. A skin care specialist or dermatologist can best determine the type.

  • Causes

  • Brown skin spots caused by sun damage are often seborrheic keratoses or actinic keratoses. The seborrheic type is harmless but many people feel they are unsightly or make them appear older than they are. Actinic keratoses are precancerous growths.

  • Prevention

  • Using a sunscreen with at least an SPF factor of 15 will prevent most brown skin spots from occurring. This preventative measure must start in childhood.

  • Features

  • According to the Mayo Clinic, if a brown skin spot changes in size or shape, has an irregular border or bleeds, see a dermatologist to determine if it is skin cancer.

  • Removal

  • According to dermatologist Dr. Jeffrey Melton, removal of the seborrheic keratoses is by freezing (cryosurgery), laser treatment or surgical removal. The most precise method is laser removal. Using a skin bleaching cream for spots that are from sun damage is very effective.



  • -JOJO-

    Wednesday, February 9, 2011

    How to Care for Your Denim


    When you find that perfect pair of jeans that look great on you, you want to take care of them so they last a long time. however not just jeans, you want to take care of all your denim items. To help keep your denim feeling fresh and new, try these tricks to care for them properly.

    Instructions

    1. Wash in cold water - To help preserve the shape and the color of your denim, you should turn them inside out and wash them in cold water in your washing machine. If your denim has embellishments on them you should put them inside out and place them in a mesh laundry bag before placing them in the washer. This will help protect them even better.
    2. Soap - You should choose to use liquid detergent rather then powder detergent. Liquid is less abrasive then the powder which also tends to clump up and leave marks on your denim clothing.
    3. Skip the dryer - Instead of drying your denim in the dryer, try laying them flat on a flat rack. Especially if your denim has embellishments on it, you do not want to put them in the dryer. This will also help avoid shrinkage. However if you will be ironing them each time then that can also damage the denim. So choose to either iron or place them in the dryer but don't do both.
    4. Try not to wash them every time you wear them if possible. If you want them to fit better, instead of ashing them place them in the dryer with a damp towel for a few minutes. Then they will be nice and snug again.
     
    -JOJO-


    Foods to Eliminate Belly Fat

    Fat-burning food are available at your local grocery store and perhaps even in your yard and kitchen pantry. Some fat-burning foods have the capability of increasing your metabolism during the day. Eating these foods may help with eliminating your belly fat and help you have a flatter tummy.

     

    Salmon
    Salmon is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. According to DiCarmine, protein is 30 percent more thermogenic than carbs or fats, which means the body has to burn more calories to break down the protein as compared to other nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been found to assist in decreasing body fat, specifically to the waist.
     

     

    Bananas

    Add bananas to your daily diet as a snack. According to the website FatBurn-Secrets.com, bananas contain potassium, which can help speed up your metabolism. Potassium is essential for heart and kidney function and has been linked to reducing high blood pressure, as well. And, according to Eat This, 25 Facts About Bananas, "the banana tree is not really a tree but a giant herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb." And since herbs help burn fat, this makes the banana that much more of a healthy powerhouse. According to Women Fitness; Herbs That Help Shed Pounds, there are several herbs that contain compounds that increase the body's metabolic rate, which in turn burns more calories. Some herbs even act as stimulants and repress the appetite.




     
    Mustard
    Spread some mustard on those sandwiches or chop up mustard greens and throw them in a salad. Mustard, or Brassica juncea, its scientific name, is one of the foods that contain fat-burning properties. Mustard seeds have been highly valued for their medicinal properties as well. According to a video called "3 Metabolism Boosting Foods" by Jared DiCarmine, who writes about healthy eating at Blowtorch Your Belly Fat, eating mustard could actually increase the fat burning process by 25 percent after only one day of consuming it.




     



    -JOJO-

    Tuesday, February 8, 2011

    Skin Care and Acne Prevention for Men

    Although the majority of skincare products are marketed toward women, that doesn’t mean that a man should neglect his skin. Men are just as prone to acne and other skin problems as their female counterparts and should take great care to prevent acne flare-ups and ensure that their skin stays as healthy as possible.

    Keeping it Clean

  • Keeping your skin clean is essential to healthy skin. Many men tend to be very active in sport, outdoor recreation and simply sweat more often, and more profusely, than women. The oil and sweat from your skin can clog pores, creating acne and blackheads. Washing your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser will help keep your pores clear. Avoid using bar soap, as this can strip the natural oils from your skin. Purchase a product designed for your face and save the bar soap for the rest of your body.

  • Moisturizing

  • In addition to cleanliness, moisturizing your skin will keep it from being dry and flakey, and will help keep your skin’s natural pH balance. Moisturizing creams and lotions for your face should be lighter than those used for your body, and shouldn’t be too heavy or too oily. If you feel uncomfortable about purchasing moisturizing products marketed toward women, brands such as Neutrogena and Lancome carry products designed especially for male skin.

  • Bad Habits

  • Ditch your cigarettes. The chemicals in cigarettes will age and dry out your skin. Avoid picking your pimples. Women are lucky because they can use makeup to cover any unsightly acne, however men must rely solely on prevention and healthy habits. Popping pimples only inflames the skin and can leave a scar. Skip your junk food. Loading up on oily pizza and fries can encourage acne flare-ups.

  • Good Habits

  • Drinking enough water will help keep your skin hydrated
    Drink a lot of water. Men do not retain water as well as women, and must drink more water. Men should drink at least 8 to 12 cups per day, which can include water-rich foods, according to holistic health professional Dr. Loretta Standley. Drinking enough water will help keep your skin hydrated and will help flush out any toxins or dirt. Eat your fruits and vegetables. Not only will they help keep you trim, the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants will help keep your skin in good shape. Keeping your pillowcases and sheets clean will help prevent acne breakouts.

  • Shaving

  • Use a gel-based shaving cream while shaving to get the closest shave and avoid skin irritation—don’t shave dry. Keep your blade sharp, and ensure that it is clean and hasn’t been used elsewhere on the body—or anyone else's body. Use a good aftershave to help avoid further irritation. But if you find that aftershave irritates your skin, check to see if it has menthol. Menthol can irritate some men’s skin. Every now and then, skip your daily shave to give your skin a break.


  • -JOJO-

    How to get smooth hands & feets??

    Your hands and feet are often exposed, allowing them to become dry and hard, especially your hands, which are often dealing with everyday elements. Emu Oil Benefits claims that emu oil penetrates deeply into the skin, smoothing the layers.Beauty Products Made Easy also suggests that cocoa butter is fast absorbing while soothing dry and rough skin. You need to moisturize your hands and feet at least daily. The key is trapping the moisture into the skin and allowing it to absorb deeply into the layers, keeping skin softer for longer.

    Things You'll Need:

    • 2 oz. bottle of 100 percent pure emu oil
    • 8 oz. bottle of 100 percent cocoa butter or 100 percent shea butter
    • 1 pair of cotton or Lycra gloves
    • 1 pair of cotton or Lycra socks

       

      INSTRUCTION :

      Moisturizing Your Hands

    1. Wet your hands with warm water to open the pores.
    2. Dry your hands quickly so that they are still warm after dried.
    3. Pour two to three drops of emu oil onto the tips of your fingers.
    4. Rub the oil into the top of your hands, not the palms. Emu oil is considered a carrying oil and will pull any other product added with it deeper into layers of the skin.
    5. Pour a quarter-size amount of 100 percent pure cocoa butter into the palms of your hands. Massage the butter over the emu oil into your hands.
    6. Put on gloves.
    7. Go to bed and remove the gloves in the morning. Repeat nightly or every other night.
    8. Moisturizing Your Feet

    9. Follow the same first five steps as you did for your hands, only apply them to the tops of your feet, heels and even soles, since your feet tend to be dry and coarse all over.
    10. Put on socks instead of gloves.
    11. Wear them as you relax at night, reading, watching TV or while you sleep. Repeat this every night or every other night as well.



    -JOJO-


     

    Monday, February 7, 2011

    How to feel better after you have overindulged in food



    It tasted so good, so you kept eating and eating, but now you feel overindulged. You may also feel a burning sensation in your chest. To get full relief you have to wait some time, at least until the food is out of your stomach. Here are a few quick fixes to help you feel better.


  • Don't take anti-acids -

    You may think an anti-acid is a quick fix, but by neutralizing the stomach acids currently in your stomach it can possibly create more acid.





  • 2
    Loosen your clothing -

    Tight clothing can worsen your heartburn or just make your full stomach very uncomfortable. Loosen your clothing or change into something more comfortable.





  • 3
    Go for a walk -

    Talk a walk to get some needed exercise as well as to help speed digestion along. Just make sure you do not run or do anything to vigorous as it can worsen the acids in your stomach.




  • 4
    Don't lay down -

    You should stay upright for at least 3 hours after eating. This is because when you eat more then your stomach should be able to hold, there's nowhere for the gastric acids to go but up and into the esophagus. If you lay down you will worsen the problem.

    If you must lay down, lay on your left side. Laying on your left side helps to take the pressure off




  • -JOJO-

    How to Prevent Wrinkles in Clothes



    It’s a terrible feeling to wake up in the morning to find that you have to pull out the iron before you can leave for work. Why can’t our clothes just magically remain wrinkle free? Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help eliminate wrinkles or prevent wrinkles in clothes from forming.

      Things You Can Do To Prevent Wrinkles in Clothes

    1. Never leave your clothes in the dryer. Pull them out and put them away as soon as the dryer is finished. The cold air will allow wrinkles in clothes to set, so properly hanging or folding your laundry while it is warm will keep those wrinkles at bay.
    2. Properly hang your clothes to prevent wrinkles. This means putting them on hangers in your closet instead of draping them over the side of the ironing board or on the back of the couch. Forget clothes hooks or the side of your dining room table–hangers only!
    3. Hang everything! Most of us think we should fold our t-shirts and hang our sweaters. The best scenario would be to hang everything, but if that’s not possible try to hang your lighter weight clothing items instead of your heavy sweaters. Lighter cloths wrinkle easily while those heavy sweaters will fare just fine in the dresser drawer.
    4. Buy clothing that is made out of wrinkle-free fabric. It really does exist and is the perfect solution for anyone who hates ironing, or for the busy traveler who just doesn’t have time. Look for clothing made of licra, microfiber of poly or vicose.
    5. Frequent travelers should roll their clothing instead of folding it for the suitcase to prevent wrinkles. You may end up with a few, but not nearly as many as you would have had you folded instead.
    6. Be careful while ironing. Ironing can’t be avoided in some cases, but if you do iron make sure you push the part of the clothing you’ve just ironed away from your body so that it hangs over the far side of the ironing table. This way you won’t lean on it and cause new wrinkles on the freshly ironed (and still warm) fabric.
    7. Invest in a good wrinkle spray. There are a few products on the market that you can use to prevent wrinkles. Simply spray them on your clothes and smooth the surface with your hands. Any existing wrinkles will be eliminated and when you return the garment to its proper place in the closet it won’t get any new ones.
    -JOJO-