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Health 101 – Weight Loss
Well, aren’t you curious! Fantastic questions! Well, before I get into that, please let me make it crystal clear that there are many reasons why we gain weight and why we can’t lose it, so please don’t let me over simplify anything. I have specialized in weight loss for years, and there are a multitude of reasons. I will make sure to address anything Agenda‘s readers (but only Agenda readers, no one else, of course) might want to know about in this new phenomenal health addition to Agenda. So with that said, I will give some specifics as to how much someone should eat to lose weight with average circumstances given for now. The trick to weight loss is simply to use up more energy than you take in (food and stored fat are energy). Now, you first have to make sure you don’t eat less than your body’s safety point, called your BMR. This is basically how many calories you would burn if you were to just sit for a 24-hour period. If you are not active at all, eating your BMR (basal metabolic rate) calories only is a good start until you get moving more. To find your BMR, simply multiply your body weight times 10, and that will give you a great estimate. If you are fairly active (1-3 workouts a week), add 2-300 calories on top of your BMR to keep everything working properly. If you are very active (4-5 workouts a week) add 4-500 calories so that your body can take the beating. Please note that when you’re very high in activity, your body needs a lot more. If you give it less than what it needs, it will simply rebel by slowing you down to conserve energy. So work with it and not against it. I would recommend getting some professional help to modify some things for you so that you get the best out of your workouts if things get hard. If you just want something to calculate your calories for you, go towww.caloriecontrol.org/calcalcs.html, and the work is done for you. Remember to spread those calories you are supposed to have evenly throughout the day over at least 6 meals so that your body feels safe and gives you the best results. I must urge you all not to cut meals as it will make it longer and harder to lose weight. If you want more results just work out more often or harder, and your body will love you for it, rewarding your efforts with that engaging silhouette you are seeking. Your body doesn’t know you’re working out to look better or feel better, it simply reacts. If you go hard and don’t give your body enough fuel, it will simply rebel and slow your metabolic process to conserve precious energy. A car without enough gas will just stop, but your body will make you tired sooner, sleepier more often, and drain your good moods. This all can be avoided by giving it the right fuel. Hard work and eating frequently are weight-loss’s greatest weapons. If you eat once, twice, maybe three times on a good day, then food is typically scarce in the world of your body; so it holds onto the weight a lot more aggressively for self preservation. You see, one reason your body holds onto the body fat is because it thinks it needs it, like a camel storing water for hard times. No hard times means no aggressive storage, means no muffin top. So eat, for goodness sake! Now that we’ve got you eating, let us address activity a bit more and how hard you should push. This is where many go wrong and have no clue what they are doing wrong. The human body responds best when it is pushed. It’s marvelous! You see, your body is great at doing as little as possible (go figure). Its primary purpose is to be as efficient as possible. Why use 300 calories for that run if we can get it down to 100 calories? That’s what your body was designed to do, so the best way to approach activity is to challenge your body with one notch past comfortable. Problem is that in general we have a tendency not to push ourselves hard enough. You know that’s true, so don’t even start with me. We push as much as we can, and when we get to that comfort border, we stop and take a break until we get back down to the lower end of the comfort gauge. Problem here is that the best and quickest results are past that sweaty border. The best way to overcome this is to take a class at your gym, any class that you want, but stay for the whole class no matter how tired or out of place you feel. This isn’t about being perfect; it’s about progress. The idea is to get an idea of what that border is and learning to push past it, even if it takes getting yelled at for an hour to do it. This is almost always the best way to start. If that isn’t enough, take a boot camp course or get a trainer (article on picking the right trainer to come). Now let’s get more specific on intensity. In general if you are in good health (please consult your physician before beginning a hard regimen), you should be getting your heart rate up between 70-80% of your heart rate for cardio workouts and try to keep it there for as long as you can for now. To find that out simply subtract your age from 220, and that will give you your 100%. Multiply that by 0.7 and 0.8 to give you that range (i.e. 220 – 35yrs = 185 max heart rate, then 185 x 0.7 and 0.8 = a target heart range of 130-148 for a kick-butt fat-shredding workout). Buy yourself a heart monitor if you don’t want to be held to a machine, or you can always use the one built into the machines if that is where you plan to be. Weight training in itself is a whole other article that we will approach later, but for now, find a great class, boot camp, or trainer that will do the trick. Well, that’s it for now ladies. That is how to shred the body fat off your bodies in a nutshell. Fuel your bodies and push them hard, and they will reward you with heavenly curves to die for. Days of starvation and silly diets are numbered if I have anything to do about it (and I do). There is always more depth to all these subjects, so stay tuned and make sure to voice your opinions and questions in Agenda’s health blog. I promise to help as much as I can as our new health relationship develops. Until we meet again, I bid you all adieu, fair ladies. * All Information from this article is taken from Fitness: The Complete Guide, Frederick C. Hatfield, PhD – Edition 8.6.6, 735pgs, International Sports Science Association. By Anthony Heredia |
Tag: Beauty
How to Drop a Dress Size in a Month the Right Way
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How to Drop a Dress Size in a Month the Right Way
I would love to focus on empowering readers of all levels of health awareness, so I have decided to give you a nice, simple general overview of how to drop a dress size in about a month (and keep the weight off). But for those nutrition buffs, I will be adding more technical info in our “Health 101” section, which will include more technical specifics for everything. That way you have a choice on how deep you would like to go into our subject.
So now back to that pesky weight we want to just fall off. The easiest way to get your bodies to lose those bothersome pounds is to make your body feel safe.
So what do you mean by safe? Why doesn’t my body feel safe?
Good questions, and now here are some good answers. Well, you see, your body holds onto body fat for what it believes to be good reasons and not just to give you a hard time, as you might think. Remember, your body doesn’t care what you look like. It doesn’t care what car you drive, what job you have, what designer name you’re wearing; who you know, what style is in fashion, what color hair you have, or even who you married. Your body has better things to worry about like, hmmm, survival. So you have to work with your body to get it to do what you want. Your body doesn’t like change, such as weight loss if it is forced. It hates unnecessary change because your body sees it as stress. This is why, when you find a quick way to drop some weight, it comes back with a vengeance, because your body is basically rebelling. The question then is, So how do I get my bratty body to do what I want without putting it in self-defense mode? You give it what it needs. Yup, that’s it! The big secret is out now. Cars need gas, oil, coolant, steering fluid, etc.; and your body is a bit more complicated, so it needs a few things, too. Why our bodies hold onto weight is an article in itself, so you can look forward to that in a future article. So get to it, you say. How do I make it feel safe to get what I want!? Well, aren’t you the eager one! That is a fantastic question, and here is the fantastic answer: eat! I know you have heard it before, but it’s true, and here is how. Why will be in Health 101. First thing you should do is start by eating every 2-3 hours. Start with breakfast within 30-60 minutes of getting up in the morning to kick start your metabolism. What this will do is train your body not to hold onto the weight and basically tell your body that we don’t need the extra weight, so it is safe to let go now. If you eat a little something every 2-3 hours, then there is a steady stream of nourishment coming into your body so it has no strong reason to hold onto its storage, your body fat. You can find out how much you should eat at www.caloriecontrol.org/calcalcs.html. Eating every 2-3 hours is easy, so no excuses. It’s as easy as: cereal with milk and a 2-3 egg white omelet for breakfast; fruit and 7 almonds as a next snack; a sandwich or hearty salad with meat midday; fresh baby carrots and celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, or tons of others, as a next snack; a nice 3-part dinner with half the plate being a favorite veggie, one part 3-4 oz. of lean meat, a cup of rice, beans, pasta, or any other starch of your choice; and finally, some cottage cheese with a little fruit as a night snack, and you’ve got a full on-track day. More ideas for menus to come! It can be easy, ladies. You can take control of your bodies if you want to. The basic idea is to eat a little bit at least 6 times a day every 2-3 hours, and your body will feel safe to let that weight go, even without calorie counting (specific calories in Health 101), and watch how your body responds. Don’t just take my word for it. How you feel and the shape of your body will tell all. Step two is exercise, which can be so much fun if you let it be. It’s easier than you think. Exercise doesn’t have to be a dreadful thing. Make it fun or a personal challenge. You don’t have to be stuck in a gym staring at the wall and being gawked at to get a good workout, ladies. Think outside the box and expand your horizons. You can swim, bike, jog; take a hike, take a boot camp; power walk with a friend, fly (well maybe not); roller blade, take up a martial arts, play with your kids, play a sport; or my favorite, dance the night away with a feverish step and a twinkle in your eye and your girls or lucky man by your side . . . Heck! Dance at home for goodness sake! The idea is move! The best way to exercise is to do it in a way that gets you to do it again. So eating sensibly every 2-3 hours is the body’s gas, and the magic comes from your finding a way to get that gorgeous figure of yours moving and sweating (I mean glowing because ladies don’t sweat of course, they glow). These two steps will shed a dress size off you in about a month for sure. Now for the impatient ladies who want more sooner, details can be found in Health 101, but the basic idea will be to push harder. So how do I drop that dress size? Well, O. K., I’ll recap it all for you this once, but only once, so pay attention. Step one is eat, please. Aim for every 2-3 hours, and if you’re afraid of heavy calories, then eat 3 square meals a day and graze on fresh veggies all day long, and that will get your body feeling safe with a steady source of food so that it will release that weight. Step two is to work out at least 3 times a week in one way or another, as long as you get moving and sweating (excuse me, I mean glowing) and go back for more. Remember to push hard enough to feel challenged, or else you won’t get enough bang for your sweaty buck. Be kind to yourself. Your body and life will be so much better, ladies, so have fun moving that body; and stay close for more updates on shaping the new empowered you. Also, remember that if this didn’t satisfy your thirst, make sure to delve into Health 101 for the nitty gritty of it all. Until we meet again. * All Information from this article is taken from Fitness: The Complete Guide, Frederick C. Hatfield, PhD – Edition 8.6.6, 735pgs, International Sports Science Association. Written by Anthony Heredia |
Xtreme Lashes™ – Made for the Low Maintenance Beauty Junkie
The Beauty Agenda
Xtreme Lashes™ – Made for the Low Maintenance Beauty Junkie
As I lay on the table in the stark white room, the skillful technician placed one eyelash at a time on my lids. I closed my eyes and imagined just how lovely I would be in the tropical islands that I would be visiting on my trip to the Caribbean. Some people thought that what I was doing was indulgent, but I saw it as self-preservation. After all, I wouldn’t have the time to apply false eyelashes after a long day’s excursion in Key West, Cozumel, or the Caymen Islands. I had to look glamorous. Why? Because I was on a cruise! I had to dress up for dinner and be elegant for at least half of my meals.
You might think that spending $250.00 for eyelash extensions is extravagant. But it really
paid off big when I received compliment after compliment, and stare after stare. A couple of people even commented on how gorgeous my eyes were. I am not an unattractive female, but never before have I received so many comments directed at my eyes. What made the eyelash extensions so wonderful was the fact that I could go scuba diving, disco dancing, jet skiing, and sunbathing, and never once did I have to worry about my eyelashes. My makeup might have worn off a time or two, but my eyelashes lasted the entire trip. The only problem I encountered was the extreme humidity of the Caribbean. Instead of my lashes lasting two months, they only lasted three weeks. They started to fall off shortly after I returned home from my vacation.
Xtreme Lashes™ is the product that I used. This was an experiment to see if I could go without those cumbersome false eyelashes and enjoy the freedom of “naturally” long eyelashes.
Xtreme Lashes™ is a relatively new product that lengthens and thickens eyelashes. They are semi-permanent eyelash extensions that are individual synthetic lashes designed to replicate a natural eyelash, and are applied one eyelash extension at a time. They not only extend the length of your original eyelashes, but they also thicken at the same time.
To apply one set of eyelash extensions, the procedure takes anywhere from 90 to 150 minutes. When I got my eyelashes extended, I was comfortable—I had my iPod for entertainment, and it was over before I knew it. Touch-ups can be done in as little as 15-45 minutes.
Xtreme Lashes™ uses HP-3 high performance bonding agents. It has all the key features
needed in superior eyelash extension glue. It is odorless and bonds stronger, dries faster and lasts longer. The primary agent of HP-3 is the same substance used for closing wounds without stitches. And to remove these lashes, you use the Xtreme Lashes™ Specialty Formulated Bonding Agent Remover. This is a gentle remover that quickly and gently removes the bonding agent without harming your natural eyelashes. It is a medical grade that smells great and contains antibiotic agents.
If you are not into high maintenance, then eyelash extensions could be the answer. I highly recommend this product for brides. Imagine looking gorgeous with your semi-permanent lashes. And after you remove the elegant bridal makeup and gown after your special day, you still have those long luscious lashes. And when you board that plane, that ship, or that bus for your romantic honeymoon, you will be the envy of all women. No matter how extreme the temperature, your lashes will last. I don’t know about you, but I am one of those people whose eyes seem to disappear when they’re not wearing any eye makeup. Xtreme Lashes™ takes care of that problem completely.
I know this is starting to sound like an advertisement, and I am by no means being paid to endorse this product, but I can assure you, it is worth every dollar. Try it once, and you will be amazed. You just might get hooked as I did.
Xtreme Lashes™ has been featured in Redbook, Hairstyles, Hairdo Ideas, Spa Review, Inside Edition, Jane, Teen Vogue, OK Weekly; and has been worn by celebrities Diedre Hall, Bai Ling, Regina King, Cathy Hickland, Shannon Doherty, Miss Texas 2007, and Allison Janney.
To learn more about Xtreme Lashes, or to set an appointment for eyelash extensions, visit their website at www.xtremelashes.com.
Written by Kaylene Peoples
The Beauty Agenda
The Beauty Agenda
by Patricia Lee
Q: What is the difference between sunscreen and sunblock? Though I would like protection from the sun, I’d still like to be able to achieve a tan this summer.
A: Ah summer! As we shake off sheaths of clothing in favor of showing some skin, the summer sun can scorch, especially if one opts to head out sans sun protection. The outer layer of one’s skin is comprised of dead cells on the surface and live cells right beneath, which repeatedly replenish the surface of one’s skin with dead cells. Overexposure to ultra violet radiation from the sun deeply damages or destroys live cells, producing painful pomegranate-toned skin, increasing the chances of skin cancer, and promoting premature aging. Naturally, the most prudent protection from the negative effects of sun damage would be to stay out of the sun or completely cover oneself from head to toe, but that ultimately defeats the purpose of truly enjoying the wonderfully warm weather. Your other option? Before hitting the beach, partaking in some outdoor activity, or even people watching curbside with friends over some refreshing mojitos, suit up with some sun protection, such as sunscreen or sunblock, both of which work to protect one from the skin roasting, radiation-laden rays. The form of protection one seeks determines one’s choice between a sunscreen and sunblock. Sunscreen, a chemical block, can be absorbed into one’s skin. Once applied, it absorbs radiation and limits the amount of UVA and UVB rays penetrating one’s skin. Sunblock, a physical block, lies on the surface of one’s skin rather than being absorbed. Based on its composition, it defends by its ability to either absorb or reflect rays away from one’s epidermis.
Savvy SPF selection serves as a key factor in sun protection. SPF, sun protection factor, refers to the amount of protection one obtains in minutes with a particular protection level compared to unprotected skin. For instance, if an individual who burns after 30 minutes of unprotected exposure to the sun applied sunscreen with an SPF of 30, he/she could stay out soaking some sun for 900 minutes. However, throwing in such factors as activity type, temperature, time of day, and the inevitability of perspiration, it may prove prudent to either pick a water-resistant or waterproof product, select a stronger than usual SPF, or routinely reapply one’s selected sun protection. If you fall under fair-toned and your goal is gaining a golden hue, you may wish to select an SPF 30 sunscreen or sunblock. Regardless, reapplication remains relevant in one’s routine. Armed with sun protection, what are you waiting for? Get out there and make the most of your days in the sexy summer sun!
Q: With all the leg baring dresses and skirts this summer, how do I get my legs in tip top shape?
A: As the warm rays of the sexy summer sun shower us, those committed to sculpting sexy bods and those just blessed with good genes welcome the opportunity to strip down into summer’s array of skirts and dresses. For others not as fortunate that fancy following suit, get your gams in shape with some thigh tightening and trimming squats and lunges. Before you begin this butt kicking, yet beloved routine, it’s crucial and common sense to stretch. To stretch your butt and thigh muscles, begin by sitting on the ground. Leaning back for a bit of balance, sit up with your left leg bent and left foot on the ground. Bending your right leg, lift your leg, placing your ankle on the top of your left thigh right below the knee. Keeping this perhaps puzzling position, roll back so that you’re lying on the ground. Place your hands on the back of your left thigh and pull your thigh towards yourself. Scrupulously stay in this position as you pull. You’ll begin to feel your right buttock and thigh stretch/burn. Hold the position for at least five seconds before switching over to stretch the left side. Stretch and hold the position a few times before beginning and after each repetition of squats or lunges, which may possibly help in staving off some stretch marks.
With two ten to fifteen pound weights, stand shoulder width apart, resting a weight on each shoulder yet remaining parallel to the ground. Inhale as you bend your knees until your behind is parallel to the ground, carefully keeping your back straight. Be sure not to bend your back, putting possibly painful pressure on your knees. Exhale as you carefully concentrate on contracting your glutes and standing in an upright position. Begin with two sets of ten before working your way to more reps or heavier weights.
For lunges, start your stance in an upright position with weights at your side. As you extend your right foot forward, bend your lower leg towards the ground until your thigh is parallel to the ground. As you begin to stand upright, extend the left leg as if you’re taking a stroll, bending your right leg towards the ground, until your left thigh is parallel to the ground. Remember to inhale as you bend downward and to exhale as you begin to stand upright. Try for two sets of twelve steps for starters.
Post physical priming, work on boosting your body’s outer appearance. After efficiently exfoliating your legs and thighs, maintain the moisturizing mantra. Meticulously massage moisturizer in oil, cream, or lotion form all over legs and thighs daily. On days you seek to show off, opt for leg boosting balms, such as Neutrogena’s Body Oil Sesame Formula, which saturates legs with sesame oil to silken and smooth legs, leaving a superior sexy sheen. For nighttime naughtiness, boost your babe factor by adding some sparkle to your skin with enhancing lotions, such as Nivea’s Silky Shimmer Lotion or Scott Barnes’ Body Bling, which imparts a bit of pigment and/or shimmer to help fake a flawless look and to bolster your legs onto center stage. With such jaw-dropping gams, you’re ready for one sensational summer.
Tried & Tested
No season screams skin like summer. As balmy weather beckons, scads shed the caked on, concealing look of heavy makeup in support of allowing the natural luminosity of one’s skin to shine through. As sun lovers and worshipers opt for outdoor activities to soak in some summer goodness, the steamy summer calls for a fresh, hassle-free look. Pamper and prime your face using a heavenly hydrating lotion laden with antioxidants and botanicals, which work to fight fine lines and improve the overall appearance and texture of your face. We love Dr. Jessica Wu Cosmeceuticals Dew Cream , which fuses Eastern beauty principles and tradition with Western science. Exceptionally light and luxurious, this extraordinary emulsion spoils your skin, as it slips on like silk sans the slick, slippery feel. Soaking in the soothing botanicals, skin looks and feels super soft, supple, and sprightly, as fine lines fade and dullness takes a back seat. Bright, baby-soft skin beyond compare to complete the sweet, seductive look of summer? You’ve got it covered.
Sizzlin’ Summer
Sweet yet seductive, cute yet coquettish, demure yet bold, darling yet daring, the summer charms and captivates with coyly contrasting pieces, such as feminine, girly, vintage-inspired lace dresses cleverly crossed with daring hemlines, boyish shorts mixed with sexy peep toe platforms, bewitching bohemian top teasingly teamed up with sassy sandals, and exotic empire-waist dresses prettily paired with lower key Roman sandals. The look exudes enigmatic seductiveness.
With the potential to increase one’s sizzle factor, footwear itself acts as an indispensable accessory in and of itself.
A few of our favorites : Marc Jacobs Gladiators, Jelly Sandals, Cholé Chunky Heeled Sandals, Steven by Steve Madden Lalo
Getting Glammed
Rather than conventionally carrying off in the all too predictable pinks, peaches, sorbets, and nudey nail polishes to complement the girly dresses and tops or striking shades to complement exotic ensembles, let the bold magnetism of mix ‘n match textures, styles, lengths perfect your mani pedi this season. Throw a dash of dramatic with the feminine or a splash of subtle with the colorful. Come hither contrasts prove pretty.
A few favorites :
Chanel Le Vernis
Pulsion Cobra Ballerina Seduction
Essie
infatuation flirt China Doll
Written by Patricia Lee
The Beauty Agenda
The Beauty Agenda
Sexy Spring
Written by Patricia Lee
Beauty Q & A
Q: I noticed that the new makeup looks for spring emphasize the appearance of fresh, glowing, clean skin. The cold winter weather left my skin a bit flaky and dull. How can I get rid of my skin¹s dull-looking appearance?
A: With winter weather, cold, dry air attacks skin and can leave it dry, dehydrated, and desperately needing hydration and/or moisture. At times, even much needed moisture can’t curtail the dull-looking skin winter leaves behind. To battle blah-looking skin, one may wish to try a gentle exfoliating scrub, such as Kiehl’s Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub, which helps to slough away skin dulling cells. Containing pineapple and papaya, these earthly enzymes naturally nix those trying dead skin cells. Another amazing alternative offered at drug and department stores are at home microdermabrasion kits, such as Neutrogena’s Advanced Solutions At Home MicroDermabrasion Kit. Though a bit more potent, these must-have miracle workers exfoliate the dead surface skin cells, promote cell renewal, and leave skin softer and more rejuvenated. Follow up with the appropriate moisturizer or hydrator to maintain your skin’s suppleness. With fresher looking skin, you are ready to welcome spring.
Q: I’m in my late twenties and am curious about anti-aging foundations. I have a few fine lines and am wondering if I should opt for this sort of product. Any suggestions?
Spring Picks
Tried and Tested:
Ahh, Spring!!! The cute, coquettish looks of spring call for an equally pretty makeup look. One can effortlessly achieve an adoringly amorous look with femininely, flirty lashes. Our pick: Stila¹s Fiber Optics Mascara ($12.50). Coating every lash with micro fibers, it produces positively pretty, plumped-up lashes for that desired doe-eye, minus the drying and clumping. Falsies have nothing on these babies.
Spring Sexiness:
Tied and twisted, this season’s must have tempts and tantalizes with a visual game of peek-a-boo. From white hot white, teasing turquoise, or captivating chocolate to sweet pink, eye-grabbing green, or bewitching black, crocheted and eyelet pieces, alone or entwined with other refreshing fabrics and colors, charm in a clever yet classy fashion. Throw on a few gold/gold-toned accessories with an organic twist, such as intricate hoops, layered necklaces, or bracelets, and you’re good to go.
A few favorites:
Hard Tail Lace Goddess Tank Hazel Tie Front Camisole BCBG Girls “Kirstie” Crocheted Top
($56) ($78) ($68)
Get Glammed:
Delightfully complement the lighthearted fun of spring styles with equally pretty, uncomplicated colors. We love:
Dior Addict Nail Color:
Pretty Putty (380) Rose Reflex (250)
Sephora Nail Polish:
Sheer Baby Pink (22) Nude Mauve (21) Iridescent Gold Peach-Pink (23
