If beauty is only skin deep you need to make sure that skin looks as
flawless as possible. Give your whole body a good exfoliate to remove all
those dead old skin cells that you’ve been hiding away over the cold winter
months. Once removed any unwanted hair get in the habit of applying a good
quality moisturiser to keep your skin soft, try using one that helps build
up a gradual looking tan to get sun kissed looking pins.

Start the season by treating yourself to a professional eyebrow shape to
give yourself something to work with over the next few months, all you’ll
need to do then is follow the shape with a pair of tweezers once a week to
keep them trim. No matter how little time you think you’re going to be
spending in the sun, make sure your moisturiser has built in sun protection,
almost all leading brands will have at least one product that has this. Try
not to hide your face away under layers of make up, natural is always much
sexier so just stick with the one basic cover rather than layers of creams
and powers.

Once you’ve got your skin looking and feeling great you need to move onto
your hair. Start by getting a good trim or if you feel like reinventing
yourself for the spring you could try a whole new look. If you want
something subtler try a few simple highlight to give your hair that natural
sun kissed look. To make sure your hair stays in top shape give it a deep
condition once a week and make sure you get it trimmed once every six weeks
to keep those split ends at bay. When you wash it always give it one final
rinse in lukewarm water to help give it an extra shine.

There’s not point looking amazing on the outside if you’re not looking just
as good on the inside. If you want to try and drop a few pounds to give
yourself that extra boost when you’re strutting your stuff on the beach that
fine but even if you’ve not looking to lose weight to tone anything up, the
spring is still a great time to evaluate your current diet and health regime
and at the very least try a mini detox.

The days are getting longer and most of you are getting up in the morning
and leaving work in the evening in sunshine. There’s really no need for a
gallon of rocket fuel coffee first thing at the moment. Instead, try
starting the day with a glass of warm water with lemon squeezed in to give
your digestive system a kick start and keep your immune system in top shape.
The spring also brings with it a much wider selection of fresh fruit and
vegetables. Swap a couple of your more unhealthy snacks for fruit and next
time you fancy having fries with your dinner try some roasting some thinly
cut carrots, sweet potatoes and parsnips instead. Swap the fizzy drinks for
water to really help your detox along and give the takeaways a miss for a
couple of weeks too.

If you fancy adding some exercise to your routine with a power plate check out JTX Fitness to help you get in shape this spring.

1. Oats—Oatmeal has the highest satiety rating of any food you can consume, so it is the most filling of all oats. Look to get some fiber from your oatmeal as well. Instant oatmeal can pack around 4 grams of fiber, while minimally processed oatmeal has around 5 grams. To get more out of your oats, replace bread crumbs in recipes with oats.

 

2. Eggs—People recognize eggs as a powerful tool in their diets, especially egg whites. However, all of the egg, yolk and whites, are beneficial to losing some inches. Protein found in eggs is not only helping produce muscle mass, but it will keep you fuller throughout the day causing you to eat less. If you cannot seem to find the time to make a healthy breakfast of eggs each morning, then bake a frittata before the week begins to reheat on busy mornings. You will get the benefit without losing time.

 

3. Kale—If you are looking for more iron and calcium in your diet, which most are, the kale is the best option. There are only 34 calories with 1.3 grams of fiber in one cup of chopped kale. If the thought of kale seems too risky for your taste buds, the go for a milder option of spinach.

 

4. Lentils—The nutrients found in lentils (protein and soluble fiber) help your body to stabilize blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar levels are stabilized you will not experience insulin increases that usually lead to excess body fat. Take advantage of lentils by putting them in pasta dishes in place of the meat.

 

5. Apples—When choosing a snack, an apple is the best way to go. Apples happen to be very filling thanks to the 4 to 5 grams of fiber in just one. Antioxidants found in apples can also help to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, a condition indicated by excess belly fat.

 

6. Olive Oil—The healthy fat found in olive oil will help to keep your appetite in control and increase satiety. There are also anti-inflammatory properties found in this oil. When you use it on veggies in a salad, it will even boost the antioxidant power of the vegetables.

 

7. Blueberries—You cannot go wrong with any type of berry in your diet, but blueberries happen to be the best choice. Blueberries have the highest amount of antioxidants out of all commonly eaten fruits. These “power” berries also have around 4 grams of fiber in one cup, so munching on blueberries will help absorb some of the fat you are eating.

 

8. Wild Salmon—Salmon is good for your health and will improve your sensitivity to insulin. By conquering insulin sensitivity, you will begin to build more muscle, thus causing you to burn more calories. When enjoying your salmon, keep the recipe simple with some salt, pepper, and lemon.

 

9. Pomegranates—While to most, it is not a secret that pomegranate juice can work wonders, but the seeds from the fruit are also heavy hitters when it comes to weight loss and health. Antioxidants and folate are found in the seeds, and they are low in calories but high in fiber. You can munch on the seeds raw, or replace nuts in salads with pomegranate seeds.

 

Paisley currently writes for AlliedSatelliteTV and enjoys writing about yoga, books, and television shows

Consider that drinking a bottle of water instead of downing a can of sugar-laden soda will save over 100 calories. If you are one of those folks addicted to soda, drinking multiple cans daily, this one change can help you lose one or two pounds per week. Other options include drinking flavored mineral water, this way you can still enjoy a fizzy flavored drink without worrying about counting the calories.

Do not deprive yourself of things that you really want, because when you do that it often backfires and you might end up bingeing instead. The substitutions we suggest are relatively painless, and should be just as satisfying as the more fattening food. The main idea is to keep your eyes open for the ways you can eat smarter, and you will be thrilled with all the differences it will make in the way you look and feel. Here are just a few of the types of substitutions you can make. You will find hundreds more.

A lot of people make poor food choices because they just do not have stop to think of healthier alternatives before they eat fatty or nutrient-empty foods. You certainly do not have to stop eating every high calorie food, just make some changes here and there and it will make a big difference overall.

One of the most important things that you can do to save some calories is to ditch the cups of oil and sticks of butter that you normally use to prepare your meals. Invest in a good set of non-stick cookware so that you can cut down on oils and other fats while cooking.

1. People on weight-loss diets must be very calorie-conscious, and often at the cost of taking in the right amount of necessary vitamins and minerals.  It’s never healthy to skimp on necessary nutrients, regardless of your weight, so dieters, especially, need to consider adding a multivitamin to their health-conscious regime.
2. Vitamin Deficiencies are a common cause of lethargy, depression, exhaustion, and mood-swings.  These are all things that wipe the momentum out of diet and exercise plans, which is counter-productive to any weight-maintenance goal.  Invest in a multivitamin and keep your mindset on the up and up.
3. Dieters can suffer from hunger pangs or uncomfortable blood sugar level fluctuations, which are common culprits for relapsing back into bad eating habits.  A multivitamin rich in chromium aids in preventing those swings in blood sugar level, and actually assists your body in using its fat storage.  That’s two great benefits in one supplement.
4. Intense workouts designed to burn fat and build muscle also tend to drain the body of certain nutrients it needs, such as chromium, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.  Because these nutrients are vital to your all-around health, and to your ability to continue building muscle (and remember, muscle burns fat), it is important to supplement your diet with a multivitamin that contains them.
5. Multivitamins come in many different formulations, each tailored to suit the different needs of different people.  If you’re interested in healthy lifestyle choices like exercise and diet, performance (for more energy) and metabolism-boosting (for efficient fat burning) vitamin formulations are a great way to boost your regime.

Supplementing your diet with a multivitamin is an inexpensive way to support your healthy lifestyle, and it takes so little effort.  You’ve put the hard work and dedication into eating right and staying fit, you might as well round-off your routine by ensuring you’re getting the proper nutrients in the proper amounts.  Your body will thank you for it!

About the Author: Deborah is a full time writer with a major focus on health, wellness, and education as it pertains to the medical field. She is a regularly contributor to the Ultrasound Technician Blog and loves sharing her health and wellness knowledge with others.

The road is full of unhealthy foods, and traps abound everywhere. In some places, almost every kind of food is fried. Fried food, no matter where you eat it, is a killer food. If you are traveling to some interesting places, learn about ethnic foods that are made from fresh foods instead of frozen, and use healthier fats like olive oil. If you really want to improve your diet on the road, don’t go to fast food restaurants but go where you can order broiled chicken and vegetables. You could even try to order food at a restaurant without looking at the menu. Rather than be tempted by an array of choices, simply arrive at the restaurant with a healthy meal in mind.

Eating right is very important when it comes to your health, but you must also remember to keep active and move your body. When you are more active, not only does your stress level go down, but your cravings for unhealthy foods begin to subside. Here are a few tips for getting in some exercise while on the road.

Flight
The airport is a great place to squeeze in some exercise. Rather than sitting at your gate, and then sitting some more on a plane, try walking around the terminal every hour or two to keep your muscles working and your blood circulating. You can also walk the length of the plane every hour while in flight to keep your body happy. Another tip is to book a flight that allows you to arrive in the daytime, and do something active outside when you arrive. This will keep your body moving, but will also help you recover from jet lag quicker.

Hotel
Many hotels have a fitness area that you can use during your stay, but if not, you can easily complete a workout in your small hotel room. You just need to be creative. Standing, you can do squats of all kinds. The edge of the bed is great for Bulgarian split squats – stand away from the bed and rest the top of your foot on the edge of the bed and squat from there, a powerful lunge. You could wear out a path between your window and door with deep lunges as you step toward one end or the other. This exercise powerfully warms up your core in a hurry. You can do pushups against a chair, a bed, or a desk. With two beds, you can sleep in one of the beds and exercise on the other. Put your towel down to protect the bedspread from your shoes. Pushups on top of the bed are more challenging on the soft surface.

If you room is on an upper floor, the very best thing you can do for yourself is take the stairs. Ask first to be sure the doors do not lock from the inside!

You can always look online for advice, and there are many videos about hotel room workouts. The creative routines you’ll find will stimulate your own creative ideas for exercise in a small space. Still, beware. Some of the exercises could be dangerous for you, such as the controversial Triceps dips, which has you supporting yourself by the arms as you dip your lower body off the chair, possibly injuring your shoulders. Always be mindful and listen to your body.

• Look for a sit-down restaurant.

If you have the time, check out a sit-down restaurant before you board. Most have salads and other healthier options on the menu, and unlike the pre-made salads and sandwiches at kiosks, they’re made fresh and you can leave off unhealthy items (like cheese). Ask for the dressing on the side.

• Splurge on bottled water.

It’s annoying to pay $2 – or even more – for a bottle of water at the airport, but having that drink will help you resist the temptation to get a smoothie or soda if you’re thirsty. Fruit juices might seem like a good option, but most of the juices offered at airport kiosks are high in sugar, so skip them and go for the water or a flavored water drink if they’re offered. Remember to read the label!

• Bring your own healthy snacks.

Airport security might make you throw away your liquids, but there’s no rule against packing some healthy snacks. Having something to munch on while you wait for your plane will help hold you over until you land, even if it means you’ll have a later lunch or dinner than usual. Stay away from anything liquid-like (like yogurt) and go for things like granola bars or dried fruit.

• Make your own sandwich.

If you can find a sandwich shop (like Subway) at your airport, this is an excellent meal option. Since the sub is made in front of you, you can control what goes on it, the type of bread, and the size of your meal. Load up on veggies and go for light mayo or oil.

• Eat breakfast on the go – wait for lunch.

Lastly, if you have to make some unhealthier choices, make them at breakfast. A high-fat high-carb diet during the morning hours will fuel you for the day and you’ll burn off much of your meal, especially if you’re dashing between gates.

How does yoga manage to help to encourage weight loss?

Yoga has internal effects on the body, which often cannot be seen, but make an obvious difference in weight loss.  Certain poses will aid in boosting the metabolism by provoking the thyroid to function properly.  Two poses that provide this boost are the shoulder stand and the fish pose.  Twisting poses will massage internal organs in the abdomen to aid in digestion.  Cobra pose is one especially associated with digestion aid.  The deep breathing involved will also trigger the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for regulating digestion, internal repairs, and balancing hormones.  When digestion and hormones are regular and balanced, it can aid in losing weight.  Long-term practice of yoga will heighten the ability to recognize inner signals.  You will be able to differentiate between cravings and actual hunger, and it will be easier to determine when you are feeling full while eating.  Knowing there are internal results is not the only benefit to yoga.

Yoga will tone up your body all over.  Giving you confidence in knowing you are stronger and leaner.  While yoga is not a way to shed pounds fast and create a new body instantly, but it will boost your ability to lose weight, and it will give you a firm toned body.  Most poses throughout a sequence are designed with the intention of challenging the body in such a way that muscles are encouraged and toning is promoted.  Downward dog and upward dog are both beneficial to toning hips and thighs.  Crane pose and Dolphin Plank pose will keep your core strong and firm as well as your arms.  Studies have proven the outer benefit of yoga is especially obvious during the middle-aged years when the body starts to change.  Those between the ages of 45 and 55 who regularly practiced for ten years lost around five pounds on average as opposed to those who did not practice who gained 14 pounds.  Internal and external body changes have a lot to do with the weight loss assistance provided by yoga, but spiritually yoga will also help.

When you practice yoga, you are more self-aware.  This self-awareness is important in reaching long-term weight related goals.  You will become more mindful of the foods you put into your body and in turn eat healthier.  Again, the internal signals that trigger feelings of hunger and fullness are more apparent when you are conscious of your body in your mind.  The spiritual benefit of stress relief from yoga happens almost instantly.  While many of us eat out of stress and/or boredom, yoga helps to combat this.  You will not find yourself mindlessly eating junk food thanks to the feelings evoked by practicing.

Get your body, mind, and spirit in sync, and you will surely lose weight and/or keep it off.  You will feel empowered thanks to the toning and firming of your body.  You will feel healthier thanks to the internal changes made, and you will feel more in tune with your body than you ever have before.  You may not shed a ton of weight with yoga, but it is a great way to encourage weight loss and feel better about yourself.

See Amazon for: Environmentally friendly yoga mats

Paisley currently writes for DirectSatTv and enjoys writing about yoga, books, and television shows.

I always believe in making things fun, which is the same principle I apply when it comes to losing weight. Instead of making my self thin but miserable, I make weight lose fun and thus easy. The following article provides some tips on how to lose weight the fun way.

Get A Buddy

You are more likely to stick to your weight loss routine when you have a partner. Instead of just listening to music while working out (boring!), get someone that you can talk to while you’re jogging on the treadmill. It can be your mom, sister, husband, bestfriend, anybody that you enjoy talking with. Just make sure to get someone that’s as determined at losing weight as you are, so they won’t bail on you.

Choose a Workout Routine that you enjoy

If you don’t like exercising at the gym, then don’t. One of the most common misconceptions is that you actually need to go to a gym to work out. There are many ways you can burn calories without running on a treadmill. If you like dancing, then take up dance lessons instead. A lot of dances are a great for losing weight, such as hiphop dancing. This kind of dance allows you to make movements that works out all parts of your body (such as
when you’re krumping or booty shaking). You can also take up belly dancing to give yourself more defined abs.

If sports are more your thing, then go for it. Some sports that raise your heart rate and are great from burning calories include basketball, soccer or tennis.
An added benefit of sport, especially team sport, is the social side. Playing in a team with people that have similar interests will help keep you motivated and can lead to friendships that will last long after your have achieved you weight loss goals.

If you are more of an outdoors type, then take a look at our article on beginning running, this way you can enjoy the fresh air and scenery while you lose weight.

Mix It Up

Burn out– this is one of the main reasons people suddenly stop working out. To prevent this,  try not to stick to the same daily routine week in week out. If you normally run on the treadmill on, go for a run outside.  If you’ve been doing a rigid workout routine, take a break and do some yoga. Yoga is a great way to relax your mind, while working out some of those muscles you never knew you had. Who knows, you may like it and add it to your workout
regimen instead. The point is try something new, this will keep the exercise fun and exciting, rather then viewing it as something you have to do.

If you implement just some of these tips, you will be well on your way to creating a weight lose program that is not only fun, but also easy to stick to. Feel free to let me know how you go by joining our online community, and posting your staus update.

We have all heard the phrase “the freshman fifteen”, whether we want to admit it is real or not. But there are things you can do to help avoid letting that phrase become a reality.

Tips for eating healthy:

• Now that you are in college you are probably putting a lot of effort into planning your study times each week, why not also plan out your meals while your at it. Using software to plan meals can help you avoid excess calories while making sure your eating healthy, and getting the foods you need to keep your brain functioning at its peak.
• Share the load. Just like it can be easier to share the load with group tasks at college, the same idea can be applied to food. Setting up a roster with one or two other people to share the load of organising foods for the week, can be a good way to take the stress off having to plan a healthy meal for yourself every day.
• Cut out the late night junk food snacking. Snacking is a major contributor in increasing your total calorie intake, and can quickly undo all the good work you have done planning your diet. Make sure you have healthy alternatives for those times you need a snack, fruit and low calorie muesli bars are a good alternate to potato crisps and other junk food snacks.

It is also important to remember to still get some exercise in. One of the big differences in workout regime is for people who did sports in high school, but are no longer participating in sports in college. That is going to have a big effect on your overall fitness and potentially on your weight since you will no longer have a set practice time.

Things to do to stay fit:

• Everybody needs a study break. Just take 20 minutes or so to rest your brain and exercise your body, then get back to the books. Take a look our 20 minute workouts article for some ideas.
  Also it can be useful finding a workout partner to motivate you and keep you on track.
• If you decided not to take up sports in college, you can participate in Intramurals. It’s a great way to keep up some exercise and stay fit.

At college studying is the first priority, other things like exercise and diet are put on the back burner. Your busy class schedule may try to take over your life, but you don’t have to let it. Remember, its all about balance and establishing a routine. I hope you have found these tips useful and feel free to comment on other ways you have dealt with keeping off the freshman 15.

Nicole Ives is the content writer for HireAHelper.com – a marketplace for movers.

20 minutes isn’t a lot of time, but here are some things you can do:

Quick Reps

Get some weights that are slightly lighter than you would use for a heavy workout, and do quick repetitions in succession. For example, you could hold a weight in each hand and do 20 squats in 30 seconds. Wait 30 seconds, and then do another set. Then quickly switch to another strength exercise, like push-ups, taking no more than 30 seconds to do a high number of reps, with no more that 30 seconds in between exercises. If you keep moving, instead of resting in between each set or reps, your heart rate will stay elevated. And even though it won’t be a true cardio workout, it will definitely get your blood pumping and your metabolism revving.

Sprints

20 minutes isn’t ideal for getting in a good run with a warm up and cool down, but short bursts of speed can get your heart pounding and give you an excellent workout—and may even be harder than your normal 5-mile run. Mark off distances of 50-100 meters and run sprints. Sprint in one direction then jog back to the staring line with no more than 30 seconds in between sprints. After a few of those, you’ll be begging to stop before 20 minutes. If sprints are out of the question for health reasons, see if you can turn your normal 45-minute walking route into a 20-minute route. Alternated with longer, slower runs and walks these exercises will keep you in great shape.

20 minutes is more than most people think it is. But if you are going to shorten your normal workout routine, don’t just make it half as long—make it twice as intense. You may come to find out that your 20 minute workout might be the most difficult workout of the week.

About the author: Diane Johnson primarily writes about University of phoenix and anything else that interests her. She enjoys traveling, reading, sledding, and sports.