Tag Archive for: #wonderfullyfit

Caring for Your Skin – Skin Cream Verses Lotion

/in , ,

There is no dearth of skin care creams and lotions in the market. Name an ailment, and you will find hundreds of skin care creams, lotions and other products for it. As a result of ongoing research and due to ever increasing demand, the number of skin care products seems to be on the increase. Skin care lotions and skin care creams are the most popular forms in which these products are available, and there always seems to be a debate on which form is better?

Well, there is no definitive answer to this. It seems more like a matter of personal choice. However, greasy creams are surely less popular as compared to the non-greasy (or less greasy) ones. Since the application of skin care creams is easier, they seem to be preferred (over lotions) in cases where the skin care product is not to be removed immediately after application.

skin

So, skin care creams seem more popular as moisturizers than as cleansers or toners. For toners, lotions seem to be preferred over skin care creams. There are some skin care creams that acts as toners too, but generally the toners are available in liquid form only. For cleansing, lotions and skin care creams are equally popular; however, the tilt seems more towards lotions.

Creams are known to be most effective in keeping skin moist; hence, the most popular form of skin care creams is moisturizers. Due to the same reason, a lot of people tend to associate skin care creams with dry and sensitive skin. Though it is true to a certain extent, skin care creams are not used only for dry skin, they are also used for making products for oily skin e.g. vitamin A creams and Sulphur creams that help reduce the rate of sebum production.

Skin care creams are also used for products that cater to skin disorders especially for disorders that require the application of product over a small localized area. This is again due to the fact that skin care creams are easier to apply (without wastage) on the affected area. However, in cases where skin needs to be washed using a medicine/product, lotion is a better choice. Mostly, the manufacturers to realize this fact, making it easier for you to choose between a lotion and a skin care cream

Eye-creams and anti-ageing creams are other examples where skin care cream is preferred over its lotion counterpart.

Whatever your choice be, cream or lotion, knowing how to use it effectively, is more important than anything else.

Natural supplements to help with fatigue

/in , ,

Are you feeling tired? There are so many natural supplements out there to help you feel refreshed and energetic. One of them is licorice. “Licorice, also known by its botanical name Glycerrhiza glabra, is a sweet-tasting legume family herb. Licorice root is widely-used for a variety of ailments, including adrenal fatigue.

According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of “Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth,” licorice directly affects your body’s levels of cortisol by extending its biological half-life, resulting in increased effectiveness of this stress-managing hormone.”

natural supplements

Another natural supplement is Siberian ginseng, according to Livestrong.com. “Siberian ginseng, also known as Eleuthrococcus senticosus, is a Araliaceae-family herb. The root bark is used medicinally, and it has a bitter taste. Siberian ginseng is commonly used to treat exhaustion and weakness. Siberian ginseng is an adaptogen, meaning it balances your energy and helps you manage stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue.

To help you deal with your fatigue and sexual aspects of fatigue, These Panax ginsengs enhance your stamina and memory. They also help balance blood sugar abnormalities and sexual dysfunction, which may be associated with adrenal insufficiency. All of the ginsengs increase your resistance to illness.

Furthermore, there are vitamins to keep taking in order to feel energetic, “Vitamins that are commonly recommended for adrenal fatigue include vitamins C and E. B-complex may also be helpful, as well as the individual B vitamins pantothenic acid, B6 and niacin. These vitamins and others, as well as minerals, may be derived from a diverse, unrefined whole foods diet as well as in supplemental form.”

Let us focus more on vitamin B a little more. “Also known as pantothenic acid, vitamin B5 serves an important role in the manufacture of adrenal hormones. It converts into a acetyl co-enzyme A in the human body, required for the production of cholesterol. Any disturbances in the levels of cholesterol could affect the release of steroid hormones such as cortisol, DHEA or progesterone, as these are all made in the adrenal cortex from cholesterol.

Finally, there is magnesium, “magnesium plays a role in the function of more than 300 enzymes in the human body. Carolyn Dean, M.D., explains how magnesium can help with the high stress loads associated with adrenal fatigue. The mineral reduces the catecholamine release from cardiac tissue; these hormones, which include epinephrine, can contribute to the anxiety and sleep disturbances experienced by those with adrenal imbalance.

As always, rest. As a workaholic, I can tell you that it is not always the easiest step to take a break. It is crucial to know when it is time to take time out and rest. So, rest up.

What Personal Training Can Do For You And How To Know If You Are Being Trained Properly

/in , ,

In their pursuit to lose some extra kilos, people quite often go for strict diets, which involve limits on the amount and type of food a person eats. Such extreme measures may help in reduction of weight for a brief period, but pose serious health hazards if carried on for a long enough time. Exercising periodically for some time under the supervision of a personal trainer is a lot better alternative than engaging in strict dieting.

However, a high percentage of people are not sure about the advantages of working with a personal trainer, and express suspicion as to how effective such a program would be. There are, actually a whole lot of reasons to engage a personal trainer.

 

First of all, a personal trainer will create a comprehensive exercise plan for you and this will encourage you to attain your health objectives. This will help you become more driven towards your efforts to care for your fitness and overall health.

Secondly, a personal trainer, being a specialist, guides you on the correct exercises and techniques to use while working out, and will offer an exercise schedule and diet plan suited to your body and its specific requirements. Hence your self formulated exercise schedule and reckless attempts at eating less will be replaced by a more planned and concentrated program.

Thirdly, a personal trainer is more sincere to you than you tend to be with yourself, and can give you a correct picture of your fitness and health standards. Your road to a longer and healthier life will also be paved by a personal trainer who will plan for you strategies to battle against general health issues.

Fourthly, preventive measures against injury and quick recuperation from an injury can also be taught by a personal trainer, and he can make you informed enough to continue with your exercises without his instructions.

Lastly, a personal trainer makes you responsible enough to meet deadlines and abide by schedules, encouraging you to develop an ongoing approach to the maintenance of your new found good health.

In a personal training program, you and your fitness needs get complete attention from your trainer. A clear idea of your health needs and fitness aims is the first step to ensuring a fruitful personal training program. Moreover you can check on references, qualifications and experience of the trainer beforehand, and develop a good way to communicate once training starts. A cautious consideration of all these factors can ensure a very satisfying personal training experience.

The Down Side of Supplements In Body Building

/in ,

Many people take dietary supplements to help them stay healthy, but many bodybuilders abuse supplements, in an effort to get bigger muscles faster. The most commonly abused drug among bodybuilders is the anabolic steroid. While its true you may see results in less time than a natural bodybuilder, the disadvantages of using steroids greatly outweigh the benefits.

The first thing you should know about steroids, is they are illegal. You also need to know that competitive bodybuilders often have to undergo drug tests before they will be allowed to enter an event. If you get caught with steroids, it can ruin your reputation both in and out of the bodybuilding world. The negative side effects of steroids are not only the legal aspects. Using steroids can do some serious damage to your body, as well as your overall health.

bodybuilders

Even though men and women may react differently to steroids, they both face the same types of dangers. For example, steroids will cause a man’s testicles to shrink, sperm count to drop, have a deeper voice, hair loss, and make him develop breasts. Women too will experience deepened voices and hair loss, as well as enlargement of the clitoris, and increased growth of facial hair. In teenagers, who have not yet finished growing, it will stunt their growth.

If these side effects haven’t put a scare into you yet, continue reading. It can get much worse. For one thing, steroids can damage your liver by causing you to develop jaundice; a disease with flu-like symptoms that turns your skin yellow. Steroids have also been known to cause cancer and liver tumors. Perhaps the worst side effect is the one that affects the heart.

Using steroids can cause enlargement of the heart, as well as hardening of the arteries, both health issues are precursors to heart disease, and in the end heart failure. People who abuse these supplements have also been known to develop skin spots, acne, trembling, and uncontrollable anger that makes user become physically violent.

Truth be told, steroids are only useful if you are a dedicated bodybuilder already, so you won’t gain any muscle mass simply by popping pills or injecting yourself. Steroids help your muscles recover from training, so while most body builders need at least 48 hours between sessions to see results, users are ready to train again in a few hours.

Therefore, users can build muscles faster.

You must keep in mind, just because things happen faster, does not always mean its better. There are some bodybuilders who are pushing for steroids to be legal when used responsibly, but professionals generally agree that abusing steroids will result in an untimely death.

It is not necessary to use steroids to achieve the kind of body, bodybuilders admire. Healthy professional bodybuilders state that there are good training principals, which include the importance of having a nutrient-rich diet, along with the proper rest. Having both nutrition and rest will create a body others will envy.

Essential Steps for Men’s Balanced Nutrition

/in ,

The key to balanced nutrition in men is really quite simple. It’s what we all should follow. Eat at least three square meals a day, don’t skip breakfast, and eat food from every food group at every meal.

Here are some essential steps towards making sure men’s nutrition is balanced, providing the right nutrients for your needs.

men

Carbohydrates

Yes, carbohydrates are necessary to men’s health. This is the main source of energy for the body. You need to have simple carbohydrates (sugar) and complex carbohydrates (starches). You should get 60% of your calories from carbohydrates. Generally speaking the average man should consume 2,200 calories a day, meaning that 1320 of your calories should come from carbohydrates. Aim for more of the complex carbohydrates from things like fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, and dairy products.

A good way to start off your day is with a bowl of oatmeal with low-fat milk and some fruit preserves and peanut butter.

Fats

This is essential to have for survival. Fat is needed to help absorb essential vitamins like Vitamin A, D, E, and K. You should have 15-20% of your daily calories come from fat. Aim to get unsaturated fat in your diet as you’ll need the energy. Try to avoid fats from butter, margarine, oil, and Crisco. Eat lean meats and fish like tilapia and tuna steaks. These contain healthy fatty acids of omega-3 and omega-6.

Be wary of low-fat options because the fat is usually replaced with refined sugar. Portion control is important, too. A good lunch option is tuna, chicken or turkey breast on whole grain bread with Gouda cheese, greens, and honey mustard.

Protein

Protein builds and repairs tissue. It’s of course good for muscles, but also skin, hair, and nails. The average man needs about 86 grams of protein a day. So if you eat a 16-ounce steak, then you should go easy on the protein for the rest of the week as the steak has 207 grams of protein. Shoot for 15-20% of your daily calories to be from protein. If you have a smoothie with milk, banana, strawberry, mango, yogurt, and peanut butter post workout, that’s a good source of protein to help repair your muscles.

Meat and potatoes are great, but your protein is best coming from lean meats and fish on a regular basis. The occasional 16-ounce steak is okay, but don’t aim to get an entire month’s worth of protein in one day. Too much of a good thing is never good. So a great balanced dinner option might be a salad sprinkled with almonds or pecans, shrimp, cheese, and black beans. This will be a good source of protein while also being sure to hit those food groups in a balanced way.

Skip the fad diets; they aren’t going to provide you with the balance and healthy nutrition you need. Eating in moderation while following the food pyramid will be the key to balanced health and nutrition. You will have to adjust things based on how active you are and whether you are trying to lose or gain weight, but including carbs, fats, and protein in your diet is going to be essential no matter what your weight goals are.

How to Get Leaner Without Losing Muscle Power

/in , ,

You’ve finally done it! You’ve bulked up and reached the size you always dreamed of being! All of a sudden, you’re walking around like a human tank and people are diving out of the way when they see you coming down the hall…

It’s a great feeling being your biggest and you’ll be smashing your personal bests down the gym no doubt! But there’s a problem…

bulking

With all that extra size, you’ve inevitably put on at least some fat as well as muscle. This somewhat diminishes the achievement of bulking up. Whereas before you felt small, skinny and weak… now you’re afraid to take your top off down the beach because of all the flab.

You can’t win!

So is there a way you can have your (protein) cake and eat it too? Let’s dive in and take a closer look…

Why You Get Weaker When You Get Leaner

Bulking up is actually relatively easy once you know how. You just need to lift heavy weights a few times a week and then spend the rest of the time resting up and eating big. This is what most people really don’t understand about bulking – it’s actually the resting and the eating part that makes the magic happen!

And as it happens, resting and eating is also what helps to make you stronger. The reason for this is that when you relax and eat a lot, you’re putting yourself in a calorie surplus. As far as your body is concerned, you have plenty of excess energy and it can do whatever it likes with it. That means you’re going to build plenty of muscle and build plenty of ‘fast twitch’ muscle fiber – the explosive powerful kind.
This type of muscle is highly inefficient from an energy consumption standpoint but that doesn’t matter to the body as long as you’re in a caloric surplus.

Conversely though, when you start eating less and/or exercising more, your body will need more energy. That means it can’t afford the running costs of your fast twitch muscle fiber and it will get replaced with the alternative ‘slow twitch’ kind.

And as a result of all that, you’re now going to be left with less explosive power. Did you know that couch potatoes actually have quite a lot of explosive power for this reason?

The Solution

So what’s the solution?

Of course the first thing is to taper slowly from your high carb, high protein, low activity lifestyle. Try to more gradually introduce extra activity and reduce the amount that you’re eating.

At the same time, you also need to think about ways you can protect all that muscle you’ve built. Supplementing with BCAAs can help to do this for example.

More important though, you need to start training with heavy weights. When you do that, you’ll be telling your body that you need that fast twitch fiber and you’ll be learning to use the fiber you have more effectively. This strengthens your mind muscle-connection and it allows someone as thin as Bruce Lee to be as powerful as he was.

Switch to heavy lifts around your 1-3 rep max and you’ll stand the best chance of hanging onto that strength!

Four Steps to Progressive Muscle Relaxation

/in , ,

Find a calm and quiet place where you will not be interrupted for the next five to ten minutes. Wear comfy clothes. You are able to rehearse this exercise while sitting on a chair. You are able to rehearse it lying down, but there are chances that you’ll fall asleep.

You loosen up your body by relaxing different muscles of the body. The muscles are first tensed, kept in that position, and then relaxed.

muscles

This method is practiced as follows:

  1. You begin at your feet and bit by bit advance towards your head, tensing and relaxing all the muscles on your way up.
  2. While breathing in, tense the group of muscles you’re working on. Hold the tension for eight seconds. Feel this tension. After eight seconds, breathe out and relax that muscle group. Feel a calming sensation enveloping those muscles.
  3. Start with the right foot. Then relax the right leg. Now, move on to the left foot, left leg, right hand, right forearm, left hand and left forearm, tensing and relaxing the muscle groups. Now repeat the tense and relax method with abdomen, chest, then neck and shoulders. Now, relax your facial muscles; and in the end your head.
  4. Take a couple of deep breaths. Feel the relaxation that’s crossed your whole body. Count up to.
  5. Slowly stand up.

With some practice, the PMR will give you a rich sensation of relaxation. Then you can practice it any time you experience stress overwhelming you, and get quick relaxation.

Self Hypnosis: The Road to Stress Mastery:

What is Self Hypnosis? 

Self-hypnosis is a method through which you’re able to communicate with your subconscious. Acquiring the help of your subconscious minimizes the chance of self-sabotaging conduct and ideas. You’re able to bring about the desired changes in your thinking with self-hypnosis. This method is extremely efficient in reducing tension levels and bringing on relaxation.

Self-hypnosis is a three-step process:

  1. You bring yourself to a calm frame of mind.

  2. You set aside your critical and judgmental mind for the time being. In that state, your conscious mind is able to communicate with the subconscious mind.

  3. You give yourself suggestions to bring about favorable changes. Since critical judgment is set aside for the time being, this method is extremely powerful in bringing on favorable changes in self. When you know that what you’re suggesting is beneficial for your well-being, the same is accepted by the mind without reservations.

Benefits of Self Hypnosis

  • Self-hypnosis is extremely efficient in the following areas.
  • Depression and anxiety.
  • Dependencies and unwanted habits.
  • Interrupted sleep.
  • Low self-esteem.

 

 

 

6 Simple Steps to Starting a Nutrition Program

/in ,

You ve now started your new weight training program and you have your eyes on your goal to burn some fat and put on some muscle. Some think that working out really hard is all you need to achieve weight loss. This approach is false. The foundation for any fitness regimen will always be a proper nutrition program.

Implementing a new nutrition program is a process. Here are 6 simple steps to start your new weight loss and nutrition program.

program

  1. Don t let the details slow you down. Jump in and learn as you go. It s best to start with small moves. Since most people s diet consists primarily of starch and processed food, this is a good place to start. Try minimizing or eliminating packaged food and foods that are high in sugar.
  2. Keep your grocery cart full of items you would find along the perimeter of the grocery store. Your meals should be made up of fresh meats combined with colorful fruits and vegetables. Food found inside the aisles are processed and preserved with ingredients that can be harmful towards your long term health.
  3. Your body will tell you everything you need to know. Your goal is small balanced meals about every 3 hours. So start by evaluating the way you feel 3 hours after every meal. If you are sleepy, you probably had too many carbohydrates. If you are really hungry, there was likely a miscalculation in your portions or food combination. If you are still full, you probably had a portion too big for your frame. Set an alarm and evaluate the way you feel every few hours.
  4. Do your research before you take any advice. Knowledge is power. When you have a good understanding why something is good (or bad) it makes the decision making process much easier.
  5. Record what you eat. Make notes of portions and combinations. It s also a good idea to document how you feel throughout the day. Are you feeling mentally sharper or sluggish? Do you jump out of bed or do you hate your alarm clock? Find an accountability partner or coach to help review your journal. A journal will help you understand what works best for you.
  6. With our busy lifestyles, most people will never be 100% with their fitness and nutrition. Strive for 85%. Many people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to nutrition, which eventually leads to yo-yo diet failure. Realize that things happen. If you stumble, it is ok. Get back on track with your next meal.

These 6 tips will help you get started in your pursuit of weight loss, health and wellness. Fitness and nutrition are lifelong endeavors. Make these 6 steps part of your lifestyle and look at the big picture. Your current weight and body composition are a result of many years of your current nutrition and fitness program.

It will not get reversed over night. Be patient and stick with it. These are simple guidelines that will help you get started in a good direction towards your goal of achieving an elite level of fitness, health and wellness.

Injury Prevention for Body Power and Endurance

/in ,

Jumping into any physical exercise routine without the proper warm up phase would only put the individual into the path of possible injury.

Therefore it is very important to have some sort of warm up routine or have some precautions taken to ensure a injury free exercise routine.

exercise

Staying Safe

The following are some of the recommendations that can be effectively used to avoid possible injury:

Having a routine physical fitness test would be a good idea, as the individual will be able to gauge from a professional view his or her current capabilities levels and then design the workouts accordingly.

Gradually increasing the intensity and time spent on each workout session would be better than just using a uniform guideline provided for as a whole. With the gradual additions the individual is able to better avoid injuries as the body will be slowly introduced to the changes rather than being “shocked” into compliance.

Having the advice of a personal trainer at hand is also something to consider if the individual is not really savvy with the various workout equipment and routines. A personal trainer will be able to provide the assistance that will help the individual make better and safer choices.

Warm up exercises can never be underestimated for it value. This phase will condition the body to be ready for the impending exercise routine, and this is especially important if the routine involves vigorous movements.

For some people starting a workout session on an empty stomach is something that they have grown used to over time, but for the less experienced exercise buff, having a light nutritious meal would be recommended. This food intake will help to keep the mind alert thus avoid possible injuries from occurring.

Advanced Training Techniques

Firstly it should be noted that advanced training techniques are only suitable for those who are already in good physical shape and have already been exposed to regular and fairly vigorous training sessions. These sessions should already be done on a regular basis.

Getting Advanced

The following are some advance training techniques that are popular both for its apparent benefits to the body and also for its innovativeness.

Supersets 

This type of exercise routine would involve the immediate switching of exercise routine as soon as one style is completed. Ideally there should be about 2 – 3 different workout style done is succession.

The idea behind this technique is to create more blood flow into the pectorals and provide an intense effective training for the chest muscles.

These sets can be designed to focus on the same muscle group using different exercises, or the focus can be switched to other muscle groups, but the main idea is to stay with the routine without any breaks.

Exercises such as bench press, dumbbells flys, bicep curl, triceps pushdown, leg press, leg extensions are just some of the ones used.

Negatives are another option that is considered very powerful for building strength. This involves the positive and negative elements in the exercise routine, where the positive focuses on the contracting and the negative focuses on the stretching parts of the routine.

Here the individual is expected to “hold” the exercise position for longer than necessary to create the pressure on the exact area being focused on, and if the ability to do so is possible without much effort, then there should be additional pressure added.

The ideal gauging time frame should be about 5 seconds. Examples of which may include bench press, close grip bench press, wide grip pull ups and preacher curls.

8 Elderly Nutrition Tips for Long Beach Seniors

/in ,

Elderly nutrition is obviously an important part of a senior s overall health and well-being. Unfortunately, proper elderly nutrition in Long Beach is often overlooked when you consider all of the issues seniors face on a daily basis. Regular activities become more difficult, medication must be taken at specific times, and the home must be made safe.

But what about elderly nutrition? Just like the rest of us, seniors need to eat right to stay healthy. Like anything else, a healthy diet can become more difficult as we age.

Elderly nutrition

Follow these tips for Long Beach seniors to ensure your loved ones maintain a healthy diet:

  1. Eat meals with high nutritional values: Elderly nutrition begins with eating the right amount of vitamins and minerals. Since many seniors experience a decrease in appetite as they age, it s important for their smaller meals to be high in nutrients and calories. The best food includes fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and meat and dairy products that are high in protein.
  2. Sensible snacking: If your loved one won t eat three full meals a day, another smart strategy is to encourage them to have several small snacks throughout the day that are rich with nutrients. Again, focus on fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, which are high in Vitamins E and B12, calcium, and zinc.
  3. Add additional flavors: If your loved one s sense of taste is also on the decline, adding dressings, sauces, spices, and herbs to their food can provide that much-needed boost to their appetite. Another way to stimulate the appetite is to have a variety of a small amount of food at each meal.
  4. Avoid eating alone: Mealtime can be depressing when you have to eat alone, so whenever possible try to have your loved one eat with someone. Whether it s a family member or a homecare services professional, many seniors are more likely to eat more and have better elderly nutrition when they eat with someone rather than eating alone.
  5. Get groceries with them: If you re not available, hire a homecare services company in Long Beach to go to the store with them. This is a fool-proof way to make sure your loved ones are buying the right foods to maintain good nutrition.
  6. Watch for dental issues: It s difficult to expect the elderly to focus on nutrition if they re having problems chewing food. Ask if they have any pain when eating, and have them visit the dentist regularly to make sure their dentures fit right and they don t have any cavities.
  7. Seniors who live alone should keep plenty of non-perishable foods in the home. Unless they have a homecare services company managing their care, health problems or bad weather can make it difficult to go to the grocery store.
  8. Provide reminders: Don t let a poor memory get in the way of good elderly nutrition. Make sure your loved ones stay on a regular eating schedule, and provide visual reminders where they spend the most time.

Elderly nutrition is a serious health concern among many seniors. It can make a huge difference in their quality of life, as well as add stability to their daily routines.