Beat Wrinkles

Photo credit; Bouviers dot net

 While God created this two adorable little pups with wrinkles, He did not create us to be wrinkled all our lives.

 Wrinkles come from a variety of factors, repetitive facial expressions, poor diet, exposure to the sun, smoking and aging. However, the one I really want to focus is on is aging.

 Our skin is made up of three layers, the top layer epidermis, middle layer dermis, and lower layer subcutis. The dermis contains two important proteins which allow our skin to bounce back if you pull on it, collagen and elastin. Over time our bodies do not produce enough of these proteins leaving us with wrinkles.

I started using body lotions which contain collagen during my mid thirties and continue today. I recently found out that some lotions also contain elastin. Along with the Palmer's lotion for stretch marks I also use their firming and toning lotion which includes both of the important proteins our bodies start to lose and we need. Once in a while I do give my body a break from the lotions, but otherwise I alternate between the two on a daily basis.

For the face and eyes I also started using products in my mid thirties. I started out with Oil of Olay which I was very happy with, but decided to switch to Mary Kay timewise products. I would recommend either on of these products. However if you prefer a different brand just make sure they contain the proteins needed to help your skin look younger longer.

For those in their mid to late twenties I highly recommend you start now. It is absurd to wait until you see a wrinkle to start. Be aware that genetics also play a part in the aging process.

I know some individuals are either allergic to lotions, I will be writing another blog on others ways to get these important proteins for all my beautiful friends.

Oh! One more thing, I have talked with various mature woman who have beautiful skin about how they do it. The two most common answers were low exposure to the sun and face creams.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Me and my wonderfully amazing daughter her last visit in Nov 2011

   Mother and daughter two hands one heart

 We always have so much fun together, can not wait to see again in May 2012.

Stretch Marks

I mentioned in my previous blog that I do not have stretch marks, this was not always the case. Due to the fact that at one time I did have access weight I was left with stretch marks on my lower abs. I had heard that these were not reversible and thought I would always have them.

Once I started working out on a regular basis I noticed that my stretch marks were not as predominate as they once were. I also noticed that they were moving as my skin was tighten up from the ab work I was doing. I then had my first child and noticed that once again the stretch marks were more predominate than before. Feeling a little frustrated I just accepted it, because after all it was still better than before.

Photo credit: Palmer's

I continued working out and than had my second child, the same thing happened. One day I decided to try the stretch mark cream for pregnant woman, Palmer's Cocoa Butter, and still use it today. I really am not sure when it happened, just one day I noticed the stretch marks were gone. Wow!!! How can this be? I believe it is a combination of both working out and the cream. I use the cream every other day over my whole body.

I had a friend back in Chicago who used it during all three of her pregnancies and she said she never had a stretch mark.

Exercise and Eating Habits

Photo credit; Wholesale supplements dot net

After exercising on and off since 17 I have witnessed first hand all the benefits I have reaped. Of course I also started watching not only what I eat, but also when I eat. So, here is what my life style has done for me.

I like looking at my self in the mirror more.

I have a lot more energy

At age 47 I have a clean bill of health

At age 47 I am not any type of meds

I had three children and spent a total of an hour in labor

Exercising with my last child allowed me to wear jeans the day after I gave birth

I hear all the time how good I look for my age

People don't believe how old I am

No stretch marks

Few spider veins

No varicose veins

 I can wear a two piece if I wanted to

After my second child and an x-ray the doctor commented how strong my bones were after a baby.

Not to mention the attention of younger males, which I can do with out.

So, you see exercising and eating right are very beneficial. Oh I have yet to notice any signs of menopause, but watching out for them. I wonder how exercising and eating right will effect this transition.

No Time to Work Out??

Photo credit: Life Hack dot org

I am going to a homeschool conference tomorrow to sell Usborne Books and More, I am a consultant. My books are packed up and ready to go, but there are some things I need to do around the house and need to load up the van. I spent most of the day writing an article for the Examiner where I write as the Baton Rouge Woman's Health Examiner. Now it is 4:07 pm, nothing is loaded, laundry still needs to be done and I still want to work out.

While at this point and time I am thinking an hour and a half at the gym is out I have a plan. I recently learned about a work out program called Tabata. This is a great work out when you are having a issue with time. The work out is four minutes long and consists of either 4 different exercisers or 2. Each exercise is performed for twenty seconds and followed by a ten second rest. If you do 4 exercises you will do them each twice, if 2 you will do them each 4.

While searching You Tube for Tabata I came across called Bex's Life she created a series of Tabata workouts which I use when I don't have time for a longer work out. I do two from Bex's Life's series "You Have 4 Minutes,"  but do two from someone else.

I plan on developing some Tabata videos for beginners, Bex's are pretty advanced, I am out of breath after one. However, if you would like to give it a go and develop some of your own here is a Tabata Timer from You Tube you can use or download the app. I found something new today for a ten minute cardo so I am adding that also.

So, I am going from an hour and a half at the gym which is ten minutes away to 24 minute work out which will do the same thing. Well, I hope so anyway, even if not something is always better than nothing. To my beautiful friends be fit and stay healthy.

Eat More Lose Weight

The other day at the gym I caught an episode of Dr Oz while on the tread mill. There was a woman who had taken regular recipes and turned them into low calorie dishes and some contained more food!!! She made a burger to replace the Whopper using a veggie burger, I think I would prefer a turkey burger, along with some flat bread instead of a bun and loaded it up with veggies. She also made a chocolate cake and substituted cream soda for the eggs, oil and butter. Dr Oz and a member of the audience said it was good, but I wasn't convinced.

Her website is called Hungry Girl and she seems to have a show on Food Network, must be on early because I am a big Food Network fan and never saw the show. Anyway she has written some books and offers a free newsletters. I had to take a look at the books and clicked on the Recipes and Survival Strategies, it was cool you can view the book briefly before you buy it.

I love her way of thinking, this is something I do take unhealthy dishes and make them healthy.

PMS and The Menstrual Cycle

Photo credit: liciaberry.com

I learned long time ago that I suffer from PMS. I am usually a very patient and passive person, but once a month that all goes away. I snap at my children and husband about petty little things I would not even consider an issue except once a month. However, one thing both my husband and I have noticed is that as long as I keep up a good work out schedule I am not as irritable. 

Through the years I would force my self to work out even while I was cramping. I noticed many years ago that for some strange reason when I worked out my pain would cease. After many years I finally decided to do some research to find out why this was and was it only me. Good news it is not just me it turns out that exercise releases beta-endorphins, internal opioids which our own natural pain killer.

While we have this natural pain killer so cleverly instilled in our bodies by the good Lord I would recommend working out with an type of real injury. So, next time you are cramping and seek relief start exercising.

I have not figured out yet how to curb those PMS cravings except moderation. 

I did not forget about the images for the weights, I decided to create a video instead. It is my first one, with more to come, and my son is editing it for me. His first time doing something like this also, be patient my beautiful friends it should be up by the end of the week.

Working Out With Weights

Some woman will stay away from weight training in fear of looking like the image on the left. I am happy to tell you that due to insignificant testosterone this is impossible. The woman on the left has utilized some type of steroid or other product to achieve the look she has. So, if you have been thinking about doing some weight training go for it.

Weight training has a lot to offer woman. First if you work out in a gym the machines work your muscles in a controlled environment focusing just on the muscle you are working. Working our with free weights allows you to use more muscles working more of your body than just one isolated muscle at a time. Try it next time you go to the gym, work your biceps on the machine than get 3 to 5 lb dumb bells and try it again. You will notice that while you can lift more weight with the machine you have to use more of your body with free weights.

Woman are pron to osteoporosis which can be prevented and even reversed with the use of weight training. Weight training helps to build bone density which is important for a healthy body both now and in the future. The personal trainer at the gym I attend did a talk on woman on weights, but neglected to give the woman this important information. Could have been because it was a male doing the talk, ask the personal trainer at your gym if they give this type of talk or would be willing to. How to properly use the weights should be covered to achieve the most benefits and refrain from injury.

Than you can have a trim and tone body. Depending on how you are built and how many days and hours a week you work out you may not look like Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser, but you will definitely be a winner.

If you do not work out at a gym I suggest you purchase a pair of 3 and ten lb weights to start with. Can not afford them, that's okay you can use can goods or water bottles. As you get stronger you can fill gallon jugs with sand or water. This is great because you can add to them as you get stronger.

Come back tomorrow and I will show you how to do some exercises using dumb bells. Until then my beautiful friends.

Fun Friday

Photo credit; Mortal Journey

First I want to let everyone know that this blog will continue to be updated. I have added a new page, Words of Wisdom, and a recipe page. I will add recipes once a week so they don't get lost down the page. Also, I am the Baton Rouge Woman's Health Examiner and will be writing there once a week. These articles are not just for woman in Baton Rouge, today I wrote my first article in the new position entitled Dealing with Stress. In lue of this article I challenge all my beautiful friends to something fun today and through out the weekend to benefit your health.

1. Hula Hoop, it's a great way to burn calories

2. Jumping rope also helps burn calories

3. One of my favorite fun things to do on Saturday is listen to my favorite up beat music while I cook or clean and than burst into a fit of dance. I can't dance, but it is fun to try and burns calories.

4. Go outside and play Frisbee with the kids

5. Toss around the football or play catch

6. Create an obstacle course and challenge your kids or grand kids.

7. Rent a canoe, rowing will burn some calories and work those arms.

8. Take a hike the weather is getting nicer all over the country get out and enjoy it.

9. If you liked to skate as a kid, why stop? Visit a local rink or park, enjoy the weather and burn some calories.

10. Take a bike ride.

While I realize that not everyone can do these things or has access to children, do something fun, laugh it is good medicine. We all deserve to be happy and being happy equals good health.

What will you do for fun fitness this weekend?
What would you like to do?

Healing From the Inside Out

I posted yesterdays blog on a blog hop called Wordless Wednesday and went back today to see what other blogs posted as well. The great thing about blog hops is it helps others learn about your blog and I can find some great blogs as well.

Photo credit: Emotional Healing System

I started down the long list of titles, which were geared more towards the pictures than the title of the blog, looking for something that would catch my interest. I saw the words "A Spirit of Healing Sings" and thought it must be a blog on health. I was surprised to find that while it was a blog on health it was not what I expected. The blogger is blogging about her personal experience with abuse during her child hood. I sat and read her most recent blog and could feel the sadness and hopelessness she was feeling as she struggled to determine what a dream she had meant.

It got me thinking how if we have unresolved issues in our lives, if it be abuse, drugs, unforgiveness and so on we are not living healthy lives. We can not live a healthy life style with negativity in our lives. The first thing that needs to happen is the issue has to be recognized, if not it can not be treated. Once we can accept the fact that we have an issue we can than begin to seek help and heal. We can not be healed if we do not admit that we are wounded.

My mom was depressed all the time and was always going to the hospital for some type of illness. However, the doctors could never find anything wrong with her and she would be sent home once more. I know someone else who goes through the same thing. They both deal/dealt with the same problem, they were/are stuck in the past along with worrying about things they could never possibly control. They were/are making them selves sick, but not an actual sickness, does that make sense?

Seek help to heal your self on the inside and than you can begin to accomplish the things you were created to do. We all deserve to be happy and live the life God has planned for us.

 I am a survivor of child hood molestation.

Steps For Emotional Healing

You Tube Joyce Meyer Emotional Healing

Emotional Healing System free resources


This video is allow you to see how others felt after emotional healing. I am not prompting this individual at all. However, she is offering a free 7 day email series if you are interested.

Until next time my beautiful friends.

Wordless Wednesday

Photo credit; Tasha Delrae blog

Motivation Monday

Lose Ten Pounds in a Week!!

How many times have you seen or heard this? If you answered all the time, that is because you are losing water weight. It is not uncommon to change your eating habits, start working out on a regular basis and lose ten pounds in a week. Don't fall for programs which state this, because you don't need any program to lose ten pounds in a week.

The only weight lose program I would endorse is Weight Watchers, why? Because Weight Watchers shows you how to change your eating habits, the others are temporary fixes and most likely will just lead to gaining the weight back after the required time is up. What needs to happen is you need to change your mind set about food.

Food for our bodies is like gas for a car, we need it to go. What happens if you don't drive your vehicle? The gas just sits there, it is the same thing with food. If you put food into your body and have no or limited physical activity the food just sits there, for woman this means usually in the hips, buttocks and/or thighs. So, then why eat that piece of cake at 8:00 pm if you are going to just go to bed in a couple of hours?

We also need to keep in mind that the calories we take in need to meet with our daily activity. If I am just sitting here blogging all day, why do I need to eat three nice size meals a day? I don't I am not exerting enough energy to burn the fuel I have put into my body. While many woman feel that by going up and down the stairs three times or more a day along with chasing after children is considered exercise it is not if your calorie intake exceeds the amount of work your body is doing.

Some things you can do quickly to burn calories, every once in a while break into some jumping jacks or take a brisk walk. I did jumping jacks when I did college online, don't worry if you can only do a few. First off something is better than nothing and secondly, before you know it the ten that were so hard to do will turn into fifty at a breeze.

Please feel free to post or email me any questions you may have. I have been where most of you are at one time and desire to help by providing you with information I have learned over the years, until next time all my beautiful friends.

Processed Foods

Photo credit: Tips on Living Healthy

Recently I was researching processed foods, just to see what was out there. Personally I feel the best and healthiest way to eat is naturally. God has provided us with everything we need, if we would stop destroying it. I read an article written by a dietician who utilizes what the Food and Drug Administration define as processed, "a processed food “means any food other than a raw agricultural commodity and includes any raw agricultural commodity that has been subject to processing, such as canning, cooking, freezing, dehydration, or milling.”

The rebel inside of me begs to defer with the canning, cooking, freezing, dehydration and milling, unless done by a corporation. While this may alter the food, it is not the same as what corporations are doing. If I go to my garden, pick some veggies and can them, yes, they are processed, but the difference is how they are processed. I think there needs to be two definitions for those processing their own foods verses the corporations procedure for processing foods.

I mean for real, look at the ingredients on any food manufactured by a corporation, would you put that stuff into your homemade food? I sure wouldn't and neither would you, I mean really what is that stuff, if I can't say it I don't want it in my body.

Stick with products that you can create healthy dishes with at home with.You will feel better, trust me. I do a lot of my home made cooking and baking on Saturdays when life is less hectic.

 The 10 Worst Food Ingredients You Should Avoid Like the Plague

I always tell my children not to believe everything you hear or read, I suggest you take the time to do your own accredited research.  Accredited meaning someone who knows what they are talking about, individuals with personal experience to me are the most accredited.

Change the Chips

Photo credit: Snack Factory

Every once in a while I get the craving for chips, I mentioned this before and about grabbing a handful and move on. Well, I did one better I changed the chips, I discovered Pretzel Crisp. One of my favorite snacks is Pretzel Crisps with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus or Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb light cheese.

Totally healthy snack, there are 110 calories in 10-11 chips and ZERO FAT!!! Gotta love that, the Laughing Cow cheese has 35 calories per wedge with 10 calories of fat, for cheese this is excellent. The hummus contains 70 calories and 50 calories of fat in 2 Tbs. Over all this is a great healthy snack if you limit your self to the one serving size.

I buy mine at Sam's Club and the only flavor they carry is the original however, there are five other flavors to chose from. Keep in mind if you choose a flavored pretzel you will also be getting calories from fat, except for the everything.

Photo credit: Snack Factory.

I recently listened to a speaker discuss ingredients in foods. She stated something that made total sense to me, the first ingredient should be whatever it is stated, for instance chicken noodle soups first ingredient should be chicken. There should also be no more than four ingredients and if you can't pronounce it, odds are you should not eat it. Which is another reason Pretzel Crisps are a great snack ingredients include:wheat flour, sugar, salt and malt syrup. I don't know why maybe some of you do, but they listed the fact that the product is made in a facility where milk and soy are processed.

You can visit their web site to find out where to buy them along with learning more about the health benefits along with recipes.  Be sure to check out the pretzel pairings for more recipes and on Pinterest for dipping ideas.