50 All Natural Beauty Products You Can Make Yourself

This is Amazing! 50 DIY all natural beauty products! Love it!

Marisa Miller's Supermodel-Worthy Ab Workout

Marisa Miller is one of my all time favorite models. She is a former Victoria's Secret gal who surfs and boxes! Too cool right? In her interview with SHAPE magazine she talks about her recent obsession with paddle boarding and the great benefits she gets from it. For those of you who don't live next to the beach, SHAPE and Marisa teamed-up to make this great workout that will give you similar results to her sporty lifestyle.

 

Triple-Delt Duty

Position A:
Hold a dumbbell in each hand out to the sides at shoulder level. Circle arms forward 15 times, then back 15 times. Next, bend elbows 90 degrees. Rotate forearms down so they’re parallel to the floor, then back up. Do 15 reps.

Position B:

Finally, bring elbos together infront of you and then back out. Do 15 reps.

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Plank Progression

Position A:
Get in plank position on forearms on the round side of a Bosu.

 

Position B:Hold for 30 seconds, then turn to the left and balance on right forearm, feet staggered and left arm up. Hold for 30 seconds, return to center, and switch sides to complete series. Repeat entire series once.

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Standing Crunch

Position A:
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand in front of your chest, elbows bent and palms facing each other.

Position B:Pull your abs in and lean forward and to the right, using the same motion as you would when doing a regular crunch. Repeat to the other side to complete 1 rep. Do 15 to 25 reps.

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Burpee

Position A:
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, then squat and put hands on floor in front of feet. Hop feet back, then forward again.

Position B:
Jump up, catching air and raising hands overhead. Continue for 1 minute. (Add a push-up while you're in plank pose for more of a challenge.)

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Balance Squat

Position A:
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart on the flat side of a Bosu (or use the round side if that’s more comfortable for you) and hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides.

Position B:Squat as low as you can, maintaining your balance and keeping your knees aligned with your toes, then rise up and repeat. Do 15 reps, then step onto the floor and do 5 to 8 jump squats.

And...

Just because

Pictures: SHAPE

Victoria's Secret Supermodel Miranda Kerr Workout

The last post on VS supermodel workouts was so popular, I thought I should find another one for all you lovely ladies...and because I have been re-motivated to workout after watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show last week. I wonder why? Ha-ha. I found Miranda Kerr's weekly workout on Sharieitfitness. It's no cake-walk. She works hard and eats a healthy balanced diet to achieve her slender amazingnessssss. I've also heard that she is a big fan of Yoga!

Here it is:

Miranda usually spends about 90 minutes in the gym, 4 days a week.If you don’t have time for that, try spreading it out over 6 days. She begins with a 15 minute sprint/jog session to get her heart rate up. She'll jog for 2 minutes then sprint for 30 seconds and repeats the process until 15 minutes are up. After her warm-up she'll jump rope -- 5 minutes of regular jumping,followed by 5 minutes of advanced. Advanced jump roping includesdouble skips, one-legged jumps, and knee tucks.

Then it's onto the resistance componentto her routine. Miranda's trainer has her practice snatches,in ladder form. What this means is she’ll lay out 4 dumbbells in increasingweight. She’ll start with the lightest and do 1 rep, then move on to the nextheaviest and so on (weights do not exceed 15 lbs. remember the focus is toning the arms, not bulking-up). Once she’s done all four, she'll start back at the lightestweight and do 2 reps etc. She repeats this process until 10 reps for each weight.  Tip: Move fast during the ladder snatch drill to keep your heart rate up and burn more calories.

From here she will spend 20 minutes focusing on lower body toning with a barbell and a few weights. She combines barbell squats, barbelllunges, barbell reverse lunges, and box jumps to make up her lower bodyroutine. She'll do 3 sets of 12 for each kind.

Miranda repeats her jump rope drills foranother 10 minutes at this point. The goal of a circuit training routine is to keep theheart rate high. This burns a massive amount of calories and vastly improvescardiovascular capabilities.

From here it’s back onto the treadmill. Although thistime it will be with a steeper incline. Miranda will spend 3minutes sprinting, 6 minutes walking, and 6 minutes walking backwards.

To recap:

15 minutes: Jog/sprint – sprint 30 seconds,jog 2 minutes, repeat.

10 minutes: Jump rope – 5 minutes regularjumping, 5 minutes advanced jumping technique

20 minutes: Ladder snatches – see above fordescription

20 minutes: Lower body work – BB squats, BBlunges, BB reverse lunges, box jumps

10 minutes: Jump rope – 5 minutes regularjumping, 5 minutes advanced jumping technique

15 minutes: Inclined treadmill (at LEAST 15degrees) - 3 minutes sprinting, 6 minutes walking, 6 minutes walking backwards

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My Favorite Foundation!

I was in need of a new foundation for quite some time. Last weekend I went to South Coast Plaza and had the Bare Escentuals Boutique find a mineral foundation for my hard-to-match skin color. They found one and I love it! I would even dare to say that it's the best foundation I've ever used. Great coverage and it's better for your skin than an oil based liquid foundation.

My skin is on the lighter side...

I got Golden Fair Original SPF 15 Foundation for $26. 

Pick your shade and give it a try!

What kind of makeup do you use? What are your favorite cosmetic products?

Give me the scoop ladies!

Tasty, Healthy Kale Chips

Kale is one of the most vitamin packed veggies you can find. It is so good for you!

Two problems though...One, it tastes nasty and two, no one knows what to do with it! Fear not my friends, I have found a tasty way to bring this veggie into your life! I made these chips from eatingwell last week and they are amazing! They remind me a little of salty potato chips with a hint of bacon.

Enjoy!

1 large bunch kale, tough stems removed, leaves torn into pieces (about 16 cups; see Note)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

sea salt to taste

1. Position racks in upper third and center of oven; preheat to 400°F.
2. If kale is wet, very thoroughly pat dry with a clean kitchen towel; transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle the kale with oil and sprinkle with salt. Using your hands, massage the oil and salt onto the kale leaves to evenly coat. Fill 2 large rimmed baking sheets with a layer of kale, making sure the leaves don’t overlap. (If the kale won’t all fit, make the chips in batches.)
3. Bake until most leaves are crisp, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through, 8 to 12 minutes total. (If baking a batch on just one sheet, start checking after 8 minutes to prevent burning.)

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

• Note: Choose organic kale when possible. Nonorganic can have high pesticide residue.

Nutrition

Per serving: 110 calories; 5 g fat ( 1 g sat , 3 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 5 g protein; 6 g fiber; 210 mg sodium; 642 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (767% daily value), Vitamin C (192% dv), Calcium (20% dv), Potassium (18% dv).

Perfect Workout

Shanny has volunteered herself to be my Bridal Boot Camp Sergeant for the remainder of this year. I want to feel my best and look my best for the BIG DAY!

We've discovered an awesome workout...P.S. You'll feel like shiza during the run, but light as a feather and energized to the max when you finish.

Here it is:

1 hour run (the key is - no stopping allowed! Jog very slowly or speed walk if you need a break)
When you get home:
50 crunches
25 leg lifts
50 bicycles
25 squats
15 sumo squats
50 calf raises
50 arm circles (with 5 lbs weights)
15 push-ups
50 Jumping Jacks
1 minute plank

Good Luck!

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Whole Grain Pasta with Olive Oil, Basil, Heirloom Tomatoes and Mizithra Cheese

So I have been obsessing over Mizithra Cheese for as long as I've been going to the Old Spaghetti Factory...basically a very long time! I finally bought a 1/2 pound of my own Mizithra so I could make some tasty dishes at home!

Here is what I had for lunch! You are going to LOVE it!

Whole grain rotini pasta with Nicolas Alziari Olive Oil, Mizithra cheese, fresh basil and heirloom tomatoes.

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Ingredients:

Serves 2

2 Cups Rotini Whole Grain Pasta

1 Tbsp Nicolas Alziari Olive Oil

3 Tbsp Mizithra Cheese (Sprinkled)

10 Fresh Basil Leaves

10 Baby Heirloom Tomatoes

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the rotini box.

2. Drain any remaining pasta water.

3. Add 1 Tbsp Nicolas Alziari Olive Oil to the pasta. Stir.

4. Sprinkle the pasta with 3 Tbsp of Mizithra cheese. Stir.

5. Add the basil and tomatoes.

Voilà! Easy peasy and so yummy!

Beautiful Skin From The Inside Out By Dr. Nicholas Perricone, MD

I thought this was too good to pass up! Here is a repost of:

GwynethPaltrow’s Interview with Dr. Nicholas Perricone

Dr. Nicholas Perricone, MD, FACN, is a boardcertified clinical and research dermatologist. As well as a triple New York Times # 1 Best Selling Author. Dr. Perricone's holistic approach to aging treats inflammation in three ways: through diet, nutriceutical supplements, and hisaward-winning line of skin care products and cosmeceuticals.

“It's important to always remember beauty is aninside job. What we eat directly affects the appearance of our complexion anddetermines how we age.”

Here are 5 Tips from Dr. Perriconehimself on how we can take care of our skin from the inside out.

1. Consume enough water.Water is vital to help flush out toxins and keep skin clear and hydrated.

2. For dry skin, load upon Omega-3's. These essential fatty acids (EFA's) are necessary for healthy,supple skin and help to repair the protective barrier that keeps moisturelocked in. The most potent plant-based source of Omega-3 is chia seeds, withmore Omega-3 than flax seed or wild Alaskan salmon. It's also recommended touse chia-based products, such as O-Mega Moisture from the SUPER line, my richmoisturizer loaded with chia oil.

3. For blemish-prone skin,I recommend a diet rich in greens, including watercress, spinach, collardgreens and apples. The Vitamin A in these leafy greens helps normalize theproduction of oil, while the quercetin in green apples helps reduce mast cellactivity, which leads to inflammation and breakouts.  I use quercetin in Acne Solution from  SUPER, as it exfoliates, brightens andbalances the skin.

4. These foods are alsogood for sensitive skin, as is yogurt, a superfood loaded with probiotics andlactic acid to help soothe and calm redness and inflammation.

5. It's imperative to loadup on antioxidants to maintain youthful, supple and radiant skin. Acai,blueberries and spices such as turmeric, cinnamon and ginger are all wonderfulsources of antioxidants that help maintain healthy skin. These foods fightfree-radical damage that leads to fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, sagging andlackluster skin.”

****************

Protein is made up of amino acids that are the buildingblocks cells use to repair themselves. Healthy fats, especially Omega-3 fattyacids and monounsaturated fat, have powerful anti-inflammatory effectsimproving skin’s moistness, texture, suppleness and smoothness.                                     

Fresh fruit andvegetables contain antioxidantsthat stave off free radicals, the aggressive molecules produced by a diet richin sugars and starchy foods, as a byproduct of your metabolism or theenvironment.  Free radicals create inflammationthat damages your cells, resulting in inflexibility, wrinkles, sagging and theloss of firmness, tone, radiance and texture in the skin.                                

Wild Salmon is probably the world’s most heart healthy sourceof protein.  It is rich in long-chainOmega-3 essential fatty acids—the most beneficial kind—which protect hearthealth, inhibit inflammation, act as natural anti-depressants, increasefeelings of well-being, and help keep skin young, supple and radiant.

                                                           

Asparagus is one of the richest sources of rutin, abioflavanoid which strengthens small capillaries in the skin and may helpprevent broken capillaries and it contains glutathione--an abundant andessential tripeptide antioxidant found within the cells that plays a huge rolein the cell’s ability to fight free-radical damage.  Glutathione is our primary antioxidantdefense and an effective suppressor of free radical damage.                               

Dark Leafy Greens are rich in the antioxidant plant pigments knownas carotenoids, which enhance immune response, protect skin cells against UVradiation, and "spare" liver enzymes that neutralize carcinogens andother toxins.  Their importantanti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory effects reduce the risk of heart disease and blocksunlight-induced inflammation in the skin—which leads to wrinkles and skincancer.                                      

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is rich in oleic acid, which is a superemollient.  The essential fatty acidspresent in olive oil nourish the skin and provide anti-inflammatory activity.The polyphenols that are found abundantly in olive oil are extremely efficientand multi-faceted antioxidants. Polyphenols are exceptionally stable and protective.  The most powerful member of the Olive OilPolyphenol group is Hydroxytyrosol. Extremely rare, and effective in even small concentrations, this superantioxidant, anti-inflammatory has been proven to be effective in improving generalhealth and appearance.                               

Pinot Noir is a delightful wine to accompany foods likesalmon because pinot noirs have enough acidity in them to mitigate the fattycontent. Red wine contains a powerful heart-healthy, anti-cancer, anti-agingantioxidant called resveratrol.  It alsoappears that resveratrol helps protect the skin against the sun’s UVradiation.  It appears that drinkingwine—particularly red wines such as Pinot Noir—interferes with the productionof a body chemical vital to the process that leads to clogged arteries and anincreased risk of heart attack.  Whiteand rose wine do not offer the same protection.                                                        

Green Jasmine Tea—Enjoy a cup of green tea after your meal and don’tworry about the caffeine, since a compound in green tea called theonine blocksthe negative effects of caffeine, while acting as a natural mood elevator andpromoting feelings of well-being. Because green tea is rich in polyphenol anti-oxidants, it can help fightinflammation and age-accelerating free radicals, protect against heart diseaseand cancer, boost the body’s natural defenses, and exert anti-viral andanti-bacterial effects.                                                           

Nuts and Seeds such as hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds are richin short-chain Omega-3 essential fatty acids, which inhibit the accumulation offats in artery walls that promotes angina, strokes, and heart attacks. Nuts arealso high in the amino acid arginine, which prompts the body to release vitalhormones, stimulate sexuality, increase lean muscle mass, burn fat, lowercholesterol and boost the immune system.                                         

Apples are unusually high in fiber, with an average offive grams.  According to the HarvardSchool of Public Health, we need approximately 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day,so one apple provides about 15 to 25 percent of your daily fiberrequirement.  Apples contain both solubleand insoluble fiber.  The soluble fiberis known as “pectin,” and is the substance that is added to jams and jellies tomake them gel.  Pectin has the power todecrease the appetite for up to four hours, making it a more effective appetitesuppressant than the insoluble fiber found in grains such as wheat and rye.  (Oats, like apples, are also rich in solublefiber.)                                          

Pears offer protection from free radicals; Pears arehigh in both Vitamin C and copper, anti-oxidant nutrients that help preventfree radical damage to the cells.  Bothcopper and Vitamin C also stimulates white blood cells to fight infections, anddirectly kills many bacteria and viruses. One medium size pear can provide about 11 percent of the daily valueyour body needs for Vitamin C, and almost 10 percent of the copper it needs.They also promote cardiovascular and colon health: The fiber in pears has beenshown to lower high cholesterol levels. It also binds to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon, preventing themfrom damaging colon cells.  Pears alsoprotect against macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in olderadults and provide Vitamin B:  Pears havea high concentration of folates, which make up the Vitamin B complex group.These vitamins are essential for metabolic activity and red blood cellproduction.                                                   

Old Fashioned Oatmeal is high in fibers that enhance weight control anddiscourages cardiovascular disease; the beta-glucan fiber in oats and alsobarley exerts beneficial anti-glycemic effects as well, helping to stabilizeblood sugar.                                      

Cinnamon helps stabilize blood sugar because it stimulatesinsulin receptors and inhibits an enzyme that inactivates them, therebyincreasing cells’ ability to use glucose. Just one gram per day (approximately¼ to ½ teaspoon) yields a 20 percent drop in blood sugar, and reducescholesterol and triglyceride levels as well. Cinnamon also reduces cellular inflammation—a key age accelerator.

Omega-3 Eggs are a terrific source of protein and Omega-3essential fatty acids.  The key is tomake sure you purchase eggs from cage-free chickens that are fed flaxmeal.  Not only are they much morenutritious, they taste wonderful.                                                

Lemons and Lemon Juice contain important phytonutrients which protectlungs, alleviate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, help prevent cancer byboosting the activity of detoxification enzymes in the liver, lower bloodcholesterol levels, and inhibit cancer in human breast cells, skin, lungs,stomach, mouth, and colon cancer in laboratory animals.  They also play an important role in themaintenance of elastin and the stabilization of collagen.                                          

Berries are antioxidant and vitamin powerhouses.  They contain important phytochemicalsincluding phenolics, anthocyanins, carotenoids, and more.  Blueberries also contains phytochemicals thatcan cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the areas of brain responsible forlearning and memory. Raspberries are a rich source of Vitamin C—key forcollagen production and also very high in ellegic acid superior in reducing thedamage caused to cells from free radicals—like blueberries they are superanti-aging foods in just about every category. All berries are superb for all organ systems including skin.                                                  

Yogurt is a very good source of calcium, phosphorus,riboflavin-Vitamin B2 and iodine, Vitamin B12, pantothenic acid-Vitamin B5,zinc, potassium, protein and molybdenum. Yogurt that contains live bacterial cultures may help you to livelonger, and may fortify your immune system. Research studies have shown thatincreased yogurt consumption, particularly in immuno-compromised populationssuch as the elderly, may enhance the immune response, which would in turnincrease resistance to immune-related diseases.                                    

Chickpeas are low in fat and sodium but high in complexcarbohydrates and dietary fiber. In addition to lowering cholesterol,garbanzos' high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising toorapidly after a meal, making these beans an especially good choice forindividuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. They are also anexcellent source of protein, needing only to be combined with grains such asbarley or oats to provide all the amino acids necessary to make a completeprotein for vegetarians who do not have other sources of protein for theirmeals.

Turmeric The golden root of turmeric has been used sinceancient times for both health and beauty. A superb anti-inflammatory, the active curcuminoids help even out skintone and color and have superior cell-protective properties, helping to keepskin soft and supple while protecting against the oxidative stress thataccelerates skin ageing.”                                                  

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Meals by Dr. Nicholas Perricone,MD for Healthy Skin

“Eachmeal contains the three crucial components to a good-skin diet: protein,healthy fats, and good carbohydrates such as fresh fruit and vegetables.  Not only will these nutrients yield beautifulskin, but they also have protective and preventative qualities that slow theaging process.”-Dr. Nicholas Perricone

Breakfast:
Each recipe makes 4servings

Savory Scrambled Eggs withMushrooms and Chives

 Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup finely choppedmushrooms
1/4 cup chives, chopped
1/4 teaspoon groundturmeric
4 eggs, lightly beaten
Freshly ground blackpepper, to taste
Sea salt, to taste

Preparation:

Heat olive oil in a mediumskillet. Sauté mushrooms for 3 minutes, add chives and cook for another minute,until fragrant. Add eggs and black pepper. Cook eggs over very low heat, stirringconstantly, until cooked to the desired doneness. Add the sea salt and scramblefor a few seconds. Serve immediately.                                   

____________________________________

 Breakfast:

Old fashioned Oatmealtopped with Apples, Cinnamon and Walnuts

Ingredients:

1/4 cup coarsely choppedwalnuts

3 1/2 cups water

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup finely choppedpeeled apple

1/2 teaspoon groundcinnamon

Preparation:

Bring 3 1/2 cups water toboil in heavy medium saucepan. Add oats and salt and stir over medium heatuntil oats are softened and very thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in chopped apple,and cinnamon. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until apples are tender, about5 minutes.                                           

 Divide cereal among 4bowls. Top with almonds and serve.                                     

 *Drink Jasmine Tea alongside your Oatmel Breakfast

_____________________________________                           

 Lunch:

Roast Chicken Salad on aBed of Romaine Lettuce

Ingredients:

For the dressing:1/4 cupextra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red winevinegar
1 lemon, juiced
2 cloves garlic,smashed 
Sea salt to taste
Freshly ground blackpepper

For the salad: 4 (6 to7-ounce) boneless skinless cooked chicken breasts cut into chunks—can also usechopped Rotisserie Chicken without the skin

2 stalks of celery chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Romaine lettuce leaves

Preparation:

To make the dressing:Combine all the ingredients in a resealable container and shake vigorously.Place chicken, celery onion and sunflower seeds in large salad bowl.  Toss with dressing.  Assemble lettuce on plate; top with chickensalad.                        

_____________________________________

 Lunch:

Mixed Berry Yogurt Parfait

Ingredients:

3 cups plain yogurt—I likeGreek Style Yogurt best

3 cups of berries of yourchoice—frozen berries can also work.  Agood combination is:
1 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries
1 cup raspberries
4 tablespoons slicedalmonds

 Preparation:

Layer 1/2 cup yogurtmixture, 1/4 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup blueberries and 1/4 cup raspberries ineach of 4 parfait glasses or serving bowls alternating berries and yogurt.Sprinkle each parfait with 1 tablespoon almonds. Serve immediately.                                  

______________________________________

 Dinner:

Baked Fillet of Salmonwith Asparagus and Caper-Enriched Lemon Sauce

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons fresh lemonjuice

2 tablespoons mincedshallots (may substitute red onion)
1 tablespoon drainedcapers, chopped
1 teaspoon minced freshthyme
1/2 teaspoon grated lemonzest – use organic only or omit from recipe
24 oz wild salmon fillets(1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches thick; skinless if available)
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
1 tablespoon extra-virginolive oil
Lemon slices

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450°·F.Briskly stir first 6 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Add sea salt andfreshly ground black pepper to taste. 

Slice three 1/2-inch-deepslits crosswise in top of salmon (as if dividing into 4 equal pieces but do notcut through).

Arrange asparagus in evenlayer on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and turn to coat. Sprinkle withsalt and pepper.

Place salmon atopasparagus; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until salmon is just opaque incenter, about 20 minutes.

Transfer asparagus andsalmon to platter. Spoon sauce over salmon. Cut into 4 pieces along slits,garnish with lemon slices and serve.

_______________________________________

Dinner:

Romaine Salad with ChickPeas

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons fresh lemonjuice

1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground blackpepper
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 small clove garlic,peeled and minced
1/4 cup extra-virgin oliveoil
7 ounces mixed saladgreens (8 cups, loosely packed), such as escarole, oak-leaf, and romaine,rinsed, patted dry, and torn into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup of rinsed anddrained chickpeas

Preparation:

Place the lemon juicer,salt, pepper, mustard, and garlic in a medium-size bowl and whisk togetheruntil blended. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking constantly, until thedressing is emulsified.                                     

 Add the greens andchickpeas, toss well until they are coated with the dressing. Season withpepper to taste and serve immediately.                               

________________________________________

Side Dish

Feta, Toasted Walnut andFresh Pear Platter

Ingredients:

1/2 lb of sliced fetacheese

1 cup of toasted walnuts
3 pears sliced
Fresh black pepper

Preparation:

Arrange the feta slicesdown the center of a large platter. 
Arrange the pear slicesaround the feta. 
Grate fresh black pepperover feta; sprinkle with toasted walnuts and serve.

Codes For Longevity

I am so proud to announce that my Great Uncle Phillip Schaeffer along with my Great Aunt Gita Labrentz, Ph.D finished the revised edition of:

Codes for Longevity

Living well beyond 80, 90, and 100 years.

I am simply fascinated with Phillip’s healthy lifestyle and warm personality. He is one of the kindest people I know – always smiling and happy; he gives the best hugs and always has something genuine to say! I've re-read this book many times and I love all the advice he gives about taking care of your body, mind and soul; it’s my go-to-book for tips on living a healthy, natural life. Phillip Schaeffer is a truly remarkable man with wonderful recommendations on how to promote longevity.

And as they say… “Behind every great man, there is a great woman” (love you too Aunt Gita)! You both did a fabulous job on Codes for Longevity.

Here are a few of Phillip's sworn-by health tips that he has implemented into his daily life. Pick up a copy of your own HERE and read about many more lifestyle routines that will help improve the quality and length of your life.

-Take time to practice deep breathing exercises daily.

-Eating foods rich in anti-oxidant will counteract free radical damage.

-Embrace life with joy and enthusiasm. Positivity will help lengthen your life. Let go of stress (meditation, prayer, yoga)

[On a side note… I learned in a few bio-psych classes that your body will produce stress related hormones such as Cortisol and Catecholamine’s when you are worried, angry or frightened. A build up of stress hormones can lead to heart and cell damage in the body. You can literally make yourself sick from constant stress.]

-Get 8 hours of sleep

-Always stay connected to younger generations. Do not surround yourself with negativity or lazy spirits

-Keep up-to-date in everything you do…reading, technology, events, entertainment.

-Get involved in community activities; take up hobbies or college classes. Learning new things and helping others will ward-off depression.

-Laugh more and forgive freely, don’t hold grudges. You can alter your life by altering your attitude

-Use it or lose it! Increase your flexibility and mental activities (exercise, stretch, puzzles, math and music…)

-Multivitamins A 10,000IU, B complex 400mg, B6, C and E, pantothenic, zinc 50mg and selenium 400mg, D (1,000 IU) and multivitamins daily.

-Avoid refined foods and artificial sweeteners

-Eat Garlic = antibiotic cleansing agents

-Smile as much as possible

-Massage lymph nods often (neck, armpit etc.) they filter toxins and are sometimes concentrated and need to be massaged

-Avoid using household cleaners. Use natural products such as vodka or alcohol to clean.

- Drink 2 spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water 3 times daily (to alkalize the body). A body that is too acidic will lead to illness and disease.

-detoxify your liver and practice eye exercises to eliminate glasses.

********************************

"You are responsible for the kind of energy that you put out into the world. Whatever you give, you will get back"-B

Congrats Uncle Phillip and Aunt Gita!

Body Image

 

I wanted to let you in on a conversation I had the other day with a couple of my friends.

AJ recently returned from his week at Burning Man. He was telling Shannon and me about the people he met and the things he saw. He mentioned something about seeing a woman freely romp around in her birthday suit while twirling silk streamers in the wind. “She was Beautiful” he said. Shanny and I laughed at the mental image of running naked in a sea of strangers. I got to thinking... that lady must have had extremely high self-esteem, or she may have just been extremely high, or both -- it comes with the territory of Burning Man I guess. Now don't get me wrong, by no means am I recommending frolicking naked to improve your self-esteem; not a good idea. Public nudity also happens to be illegal ha-ha. I was merely admiring her personal confidence -- girl has hutzpah!

I believe that a large percentage of women these days lack confidence and have a weak perception of their own body image.

Margarita Tartakovsky, MS, author of Weightless, gives some helpful advice.

Things Every Woman Should Think About:

It’s not easy living in today’s thin-is-in society. Thanks to trashy weeklies, skinny celebrities and flashy ads, slowly but surely – the media and our surroundings chip away at our body image. Self doubt creeps in and many women begin to wonder... Am I thin enough, pretty enough etc. Whatever the case maybe, reversing our thought process and developing a positive body image takes time.

1. Consider the impact. Take some time to reflect on how your body image has affected other areas of your life. How does your body image affect your relationships, your work, and overall self-image? Does it prevent you from accomplishing professional goals? And if you have children, consider the message you are sending them about their own self-image. Does your little girl hear you complain about your weight or appearance? What might she think about her own?

2. See the whole you. Many of us rarely look at ourselves as a whole person. We pick apart our bodies and nit-pick at every supposed flaw. Instead, empower yourself to see the entire you.  (Make a list of ten things that you love about yourself…internally and externally)

3. Change your mentality. Our society values a slim silhouette, smooth skin and perfect features, oftentimes at the cost of health. But when we change our mindset, we empower ourselves to pursue good self-care. In fact, it becomes a beautiful cycle: focus on being healthy, and do things that help you feel better about yourself. When you’re taking care of yourself, your mood improves and you look healthier.

4. Focus on strong female role models. Nowadays, we turn to actresses for our outward inspiration – how we dress, what we look like, whose arms, legs and lips we want. Instead, think about the many accomplished, strong women from history and today. What woman do you admire for her accomplishments, strength, character, resolve?

“Women of substance help us remember what really counts: the inner self, values, beliefs, morals, and the ability to love. With this insight, we may gradually see our entire female experience differently.”-Dr. Maine

The change can start with you.

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Mmmm Looks Good