Monday, December 31, 2012

Russian Cure for Colds

Russian grandmothers serve Gogol-Mogol to treat the common cold, an egg-based mixture that is particularly good for coughs. Beat 1 raw egg and 1 teaspoon of honey in a large cup until foamy; in a separate cup melt 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter in ½ cup milk. Pour milk mixture into egg mixture while beating well, then drink it while hot, taking small sips until it is gone. Drink it at night and wake up tomorrow feeling much better!

Source: Organic Authority

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Garnier Radiance Moisture Skin Renew

I purchased this cream from the store for about $11.00 because I had a coupon for two bucks off any moisturizer by Garnier. It has three of the most popular ingredients for fighting free radical damage and warding off the signs of aging: Caffeine, lycopene and vitamin C.  I can't tell if it has done anything for my skin tone or fine lines yet, but I can tell you that it instantly absorbs into my skin and makes it feel like a newborn baby. I have very oily and acne-prone skin, so this is a godsend for me to put on at night. I have the perfect amount of moisture with no oily feeling. It has a light fragrance that reminds me of green tea and comes in a glass container. Make sure you always look at ALL packaging in your house for a recycling logo! =] .


Save The Earth, Simply

Test Your Toilet - Place a drop of food coloring in the tank and wait 15 minutes. If it shows up in the bowl, you have a leak - which can waste 200 gallons a day. Putting in a new toilet flapper can cost around five dollars, and you can do it. Check out ehow.com's "How to replace a toilet flapper" video.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Vitamin A

A is essential for a strong immune system. USDA researchers found that an increased intake of vitamin A boosted germ-killing cells by 8 percent. Because vitamin A can build up to toxic levels in the body, experts recommend getting it through beta-carotene supplements—which prompt the body to produce the A you need—or through your diet.

Conditions: Immunity
Recommendations: 5,000 international units (IU) daily, preferably as beta-caroteneNatural sources such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and mangoes
Interactions & Side Effects: Vitamin A can increase the toxicity of medications that contain Isoretinoin, such as the acne treatment Accutane


Thursday, December 20, 2012

Low-Carb May Cause Stress

Low-carb diets make you feel sad and stressed! Snapping at your husband and kids? Yelling at drivers? You might want to blame your carb deprivation. A recent study by Australian researchers, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, followed 106 dieters for a year. Half ate a carb-rich diet. The others followed a low-carb diet.

After a year, the carb eaters felt happier, calmer, and more focused than the carb-deprived group, who reported feeling stressed out. The reason for this? Carbs boost mood-regulating, stress-reducing chemicals in the brain, and high-protein, fatty foods may deplete them, says Grant Brinkworth, PhD, the lead researcher of the study.

Source: Health Magazine

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Lautner Abs: Prone cobra


Prone Cobra
Lie facedown on the floor with your legs straight and your arms next to your sides, palms down. Contract your glutes and the muscles of your lower back, and raise your head, chest, arms, and legs off the floor. Simultaneously rotate your arms so that your thumbs point toward the ceiling. At this time, your hips should be the only parts of your body touching the floor. Hold this position for 60 seconds, then rest one minute. Repeat three times.

Source: Men's Health

Friday, December 14, 2012

A Scent Should Grow On You


Your Skin Can Lead Your Nose
Your skin type determines which natural oils will mix with a fragrance, so it can be a useful starting point for finding the right scent. Teresa Molnar, executive director of the Sense of Smell Institute, suggests these templates.

Your skin tone: light to medium

Fairer skin is often drier, so it won't retain subtle scents as long as other skin types will. Choose a crisp, accented fragrance that lasts, like the fresh citrus bouquet of Dolce and Gabbana Pour Homme Light Blue ($55, www.dolcegabbanalightblue.com) or the (manly) floral scents in Armani Code ($55, giorgioarmanicosmetics.com). These intense notes won't fade as fast as more understated ones will.

Your skin tone: medium to dark

Medium-to-dark skin pumps out more natural oils, giving scents longevity and enhancing fragrances. More nuanced scents, such as amber, will linger longer, while bolder notes, such as the tobacco and wood scents found in Tom Ford for Men ($60, tomford.com), can create unique combinations with your natural musk. The darker your complexion, the bolder you can go.

 

Scents are seasonal

Use less cologne in spring and summer. "As your body heat builds up, the fragrance intensifies," says Molnar. "Sweating adds to the effect."

A fragrance can improve your sex life

All smells are not created equal. In a study by the Chicago-based Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, women were turned on by wafts of licorice, cucumber, and banana-nut bread, while cherries and charcoal-barbecue meat were big turnoffs. Your best bet to set an olfactory lure? Seek out colognes with cucumber, such as Polo Blue ($50, ralphlauren.com ), or anise, such as Cereus No. 11 ($125, cereusdevelopment.com). When in doubt, sprinkle on some baby powder, says Alan R. Hirsch, M.D., of the foundation. "It makes women feel secure."

A smell should grow on you

"Genes, diet, hygiene, and skin type can all determine how a fragrance will smell on you," says Molnar. "The biggest mistake men make is buying a co--logne based on a quick sniff at the store and not giving it time to mix with their body." It'll take 10 minutes for the alcohol to evaporate and the scent to mingle with your own chemistry, so hold your fire on the credit card until it does. And limit yourself to testing three scents a day. The nose is overwhelmed by any more, says Molnar. You may also want to rethink that tandoori lunch: Certain foods, especially garlic, olive oil, onions, and curry, can transmit their smells through your sweat and oil glands and may change your cologne scent, says Wilma Bergfeld, M.D., head of dermatological research at the Cleveland Clinic.

Source: Men's Health

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Brazilian Wax


Do It: the Brazilian Bikini Wax
Though there are tons of DIY waxing kits on shelves, you would have to be super skilled, detail-oriented and steady-handed to pull off (pun intended) a completely bare, salonworthy front-and-back bikini wax. Just leave this one to the pros—we wouldn’t want you making any mistakes down there. (Can you say ouch?!)

Source: Glamour

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Ay, There's The Scrub!

Some remnants of summer--like your beach hookup who won't stop commenting on your facebook photos-- are hard to get rid of. But, the dead skin cells built up from months of sun? Simple: Exfoliate. A dime-sized drop of facial scrub can leave you looking and feeling revitalized.

Shed Some Skin - "When you scrub, you're removing the top two layers of skin," says Rita Csizmadia. She's the owner of Rita's Institute for Beautiful Skin, a medical spa in Los Angeles. "A man exfoliates almost every day, in a way, by shaving. That leaves the upper part of his face not exfoliated, though."

Banish Ingrown Hairs - These cause irritation and leave you looking like you lost a fight with your razor. A skin buffer can bring the hair to the surface. "It breaks that follicle and brings the hair out," making it easier to remove the next time you shave.

Know Your Limits - Exfoliate once a week--any more often and you risk both irritation and an increase in oil production, Csizmadia says. That means your skin will simply go from flaky to oily. "An exfoliator irritates the skin a little bit, so if you shave right after, you can cause more irritation."

How to do it - Use your hands to gently rub the granules in a circular motion all over your face. Then rinse them off with a soft washcloth to reveal a fresh layer of skin.

Bulldog original face scrub: $10 (888) 232-7431 - Ground coconut shells help remove dead skin. Has a fresh smell, too. 


Kiehl's Faciel Fuel Energizing Scrub $18, kiehls.com











Source: Men's Health

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Folate & B12


While calcium is the most well-known bone-building mineral, taking high doses of calcium supplements can make men's risk of prostate cancer skyrocket.  (Two servings of dairy per day will fill your calcium need without increasing your risk). Save your bones and your manhood with folate and B-12. A combination of  B vitamins are important for bone health and help lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that ups your risk of blood clots. A 2005 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reports men who took a daily dose of folate and B-12 were 80 percent less likely to break a bone than those taking placebo.

Conditions: Bone health
Recommendations: 5 mg of folate (or 500 mcg of folic acid) and 1500 mcg of vitamin B-12
Interactions & Side Effects: Phenytoin (You may need more folate, but too much folate may interfere with drug), Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory medicines (You may need more folate), Antacids (Drugs that reduce stomach acid can lower folate levels)

Source: Men's Health

Monday, December 3, 2012

Speed Jump Rope


Total-Body Stress-Buster Workout
No time for hour-long exercise? No problem. Here is one amazing workout that takes just 15 minutes. It can be completed without sacrificing much of your precious time. Plus, they don't require much equipment, so there's no need to even set foot in a gym; you can do them anywhere. Perform as many reps as you can in 60 seconds, then move to the next exercise and so on. After completing all seven moves back to back, rest for 60 seconds, then repeat the circuit.


Speed Jump Rope - Stand with your knees slightly bent, holding the ends of a jump rope. Push off the floor with the balls of your feet and point your toes downward, while making small circles with your wrists. Land softly on your toes immediately pushing off again. Focus on jumping over the rope as quickly as possible.

Source: Men's Health

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Get Perfect Skin


How to Get Perfect Skin: Don’t Over-Pick Pimples
We understand the temptation, really we do. The truth is, you can pop a zit if it’s a whitehead, but only once! Resist the urge to squeeze the spot until you bleed—that’s how scarring happens! As soon as the little guy shows up, put a little benzoyl peroxide treatment (try Clinique’s Acne Solutions Emergency Gel Lotion, $15) on it, and leave it alone so your skin can heal.



Source: Glamour


Monday, November 26, 2012

Worst "Healthy" Sandwich


Worst "Healthy" Sandwich
Quizno's Veggie (large)
1,090 calories
61 g fat (19 g saturated)
2,540 mg sodium

In most people's minds, "veggie" is synonymous with "healthy," which is what makes this sandwich such a sly beast. You might think it's a welterweight, but topped as it is with the trio of mozzarella cheese, Cheddar cheese, and guacamole—which together provide a full day's worth of fat—this sub fights its way into the big boys' division. If it's vegetables you seek at Quizno's, it's either the Pan Asian Chopped Salad or a fistful of fat.

Source: Eat This, Not That

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Bad Hair Day?

The bad hair day insta-fix..
Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo $15 at fab.com

Editors’ Note: You don’t need be on the waiting list for Oscar Blandi’s chic Madison Avenue salon to get a gorgeous head of hair. The stylist-to-the-stars, who has coiffed the hair of envy-inducing celebs like Jessica Biel, Kelly Ripa, and Julianna Marguilies, created his product line with exotic ingredients like jasmine, lemon verbena and grape seed extract. Not only do these remind him of favorite Italian scents, but they just happen to be major hair health-savers.

Source: Glamour



Monday, November 19, 2012

Hammam Bath


Splurge: the Hammam Bath
Zen is in. Before savoring a Turkish-style full-body rubdown, unwind in a traditional hammam bath, where the air is ripe with stress-relieving herbal essential oils. After your purifying massage-exfoliation-wrap session, take your pick of amenities: Head to the sauna, steam room, cool mist room or dipping pool to further enhance your experience. (So many choices, so little time!)

Source: Glamour


Saturday, November 17, 2012

3 Ways to Look Better in Photos (and the Beauty Products That'll Get You There)

Never untag a picture again! Makeup guru and celeb photographer Davis Factor gives his camera-ready Dos & Don’ts.

“Tilt your head so hair is visible,” says Factor. Straight on, you can look like you don’t have hair!

1. “Do apply makeup in the lighting you’ll be photographed in so it’s not too heavy,” says Factor. “For natural light, avoid sparkle. It accentuates fine lines and ages you.”

2. “Do use a light-reflecting concealer to combat undereye shadows,” he says. We like Simply Vera Vera Wang Illuminating Concealer ($19.50, kohls.com).

3. “Do use an anti-shine product to keep skin matte. Oily skin gets shinier thanks to the flash.” Try Smashbox Anti-Shine ($27, smashbox.com).

Your Photo Essentials:

Factor’s must: Great Primer. He recommends Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36, ulta.com)

Beauty Editor Addiction: YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking in No. 1 Deep Black ($30, yslbeautyus.com)

Our Pick: A Real Red. Try NYC New York Color Ultra Moist Lipwear in Retro Red ($2, drugstore.com).

Source: Glamour

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Situp with Punch

Total-Body Stress-Buster Workout - No time for hour-long exercise? No problem. Here is one amazing workout that takes just 15 minutes. It can be completed without sacrificing much of your precious time. Plus, they don't require much equipment, so there's no need to even set foot in a gym; you can do them anywhere. Perform as many reps as you can in 60 seconds, then move to the next exercise and so on. After completing all seven moves back to back, rest for 60 seconds, then repeat the circuit.

Situp with Punch - Lie on your back with your knees bent, your feet flat on the floor, and hands behind your head. Brace your abs, sit up, and punch across your body six times with your left arm. Return to the starting position, sit up, and punch across your body six times with your left arm. That is one rep.

Source: Men's Health

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Questions Women Ask About Their Body

Q: When I start working out, I gain weight, so I get tempted to stop. What's going on?
A: You're probably gaining lean muscle and dropping body fat. At the very start of a workout plan, you may be putting on muscle faster than you're losing body fat, thus the small initial weight bump. Remember that muscle is denser and takes up less space than fat. If your weight doesn't change, your dress size probably will.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Carrots

One of Eat This, Not That's 8 Foods You Should Eat Everyday. Most red, yellow, or orange vegetables and fruits are spiked with carotenoids--fat soluble compounds that are associated with a reduction in a wide range of cancers, as well as reduced risk and severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis--but none are as easy to prepare or have as low a caloric density as carrots. Aim for 1/2 cup a day.
Substitutes: Sweet potato, pumpkin, butternut squash, yellow bell pepper, mango
Fit it in: Raw baby carrots, slice raw yellow pepper, butternut squash soup, pumpkin pie, carrot cake

Source: Eat This, Not That

Monday, November 5, 2012

Best Beauty Products

Eye Cream for Dark Circles - Aveeno Positively Radiant Eye Illuminator ($12; aveeno.com). Soy and vitamin B help reduce puffiness and dark circles. Also has a cool brush applicator.

Facial Cleanser - Simple Brand Moisturizing Facial Wash ($7; simpleskincare.com). Dry, sensitive, oily. This wash works for all. The star ingredient, bisabolol, acts like an anti-inflammatory to help keep skin calm.

Sunscreen for Face - Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion SPF 30 ($11; neutrogena.com). This skin saver is completely oil free, so it won't clog pores. It won't look greasy on your face either.

Anti-Ager for Wrinkles - Garnier Ultra-Lift 2 in 1 Wrinkle Reducer ($17; most stores). It uses a natural retinoid to ramp up cell turnover and reduce the look of wrinkles.

Eye Cream for Wrinkles - Shiseido WrinkleResist24 Benefiance Eye Contour Cream ($55; shiseido.com). Hydrating plant extracts make fine lines less noticeable, and hyaluronic acid pulls moisture into the skin to plump it even more.


Source: Health Magazine

Thursday, November 1, 2012

100-Calorie Mexican Frittatas


These Tex-Mex Mini-Frittatas are amazing.  approximately 112 calories for 2 frittatas.  Served along side turkey sausage and a glass of orange juice or a bowl of berries and you have a fabulously healthy low-calorie breakfast.

I love these, they are fast and simple.  They reheat VERY well.  I make enough for several breakfasts and then heat them up in the morning. I have been feeding a hunkering for spicy Mexican food and this hit the spot, served on a bed of pico de gallo it is amazing (calorie count only includes mini-frittatas).  Buon Appetito!

Tex-Mex Mini-Frittatas (Low Calorie)
Olive Oil Spray
16 egg whites
2 ounces 2% Mexican cheese blend (I used Lucerne brand)
1/4 cup drained canned diced green chilis
salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350°.  Lightly mist 8 cups of a non-stick muffin pan with the olive oil spray. Put 2 egg whites in each muffin cup, sprinkle with pinch of salt and pepper.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until almost set.


In a small mixing bowl, mix the cheese and chiles.  Spoon the mixture evenly over the tops of the frittatas.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes longer, or until the egg is no longer runny and the cheese is melted.  Transfer the muffin tin to a cooling rack and allow the frittatas to rest for 2 minutes before serving.

Source: Slow Roasted Italian


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Health Threats You Can't Ignore!

Usually when you get a nosebleed or a pimple your first instinct is to head to the doctor's office. Most of the time, it's not something to worry about. Sometimes something that seems small is an indication of something bigger going on. These are "third-tier" complaints that just might be trying to warn you about a first-tier problem.

Blister - A blister caused by skin-on-sock friction may be a sign that you need to spring for new shoes, but it's hardly a health threat. However, blisters that pop up between your toes as a result of athlete's foot are, in fact, a medical emergency in the making. Every year, patients end up in the hospital for 5 to 7 days with IV antibiotics because of foot infections that could have been prevented. Intercepting the fungal infection before it reaches the blistering point would be the best way. At the first sign of athlete's foot, do the obvious: Start using an over-the-counter (OTC) cream such as Lamisil 2x a day. Before your evening application, soak your feet in warm water and Epsom salts for 20 minutes. Follow this regiment for two weeks, and if you don't see improvement, ask your doctor about ciclopirox gel, a prescription medication that's been shown in studies to kick both fungal and bacterial butt.


Source: Men's Health

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Feed Your Skin

Carrots - Vitamin A in carrots balances the pH of your skin's surface, to help fend off harmful bacteria. National Cancer Institute researchers found that people with the highest consumption of carotenoids (natural pigments carrots) were six times less likely to develop skin cancer than those with the lower intakes.

Berries - Blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries contain high amounts of healthy antioxidants.

Salmon, Walnuts, Flaxseed - Fatty acids in these foods help block harmful irritants and act as the passageway for nutrients coming into, and waste products passing out of, the cell. Essential fatty acids also help your skin cells hold moisture. Plus, adding 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of flax seed to your diet could save your hair. Taiwanese scientists, found that 50 milligrams a day of lignans (disease-fighting compounds found in flax seed) slowed hair loss in 9 out of 10 participants.

Healthy Oils - Cold pressed, extra virgin, or expeller processed oils keep skin lubricated and looking healthier. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a diet rich in linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid found in nuts, olive oil and eggs) showed age-preventative effects. Korean researchers found that skin treated with eicosapentaenoic acid (an omega-3 in fish oil) had 79 percent fewer collagen-destroying proteins after exposure to UV rays. Drizzle olive oil over cold-water fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) for a boost of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Remember that even healthy fat is high in calories, so limit yourself to two tablespoons a day.

Whole-Wheat - Along with turkey, tuna and brazil nuts are all rich in selenium. It's a mineral that plays a key role in the health of skin cells. Studies show that even sun-damaged skin may suffer fewer consequences if selenium levels are high.

Green Tea - The skin-health assets in this drink are matchless. It has anti-inflammatory properties, protects the cell membrane, and may even reduce the risk of some cancers. Metabolism is also boosted.

Sunflower Seeds - These seeds pack the most natural vitamin E of any food around. No antioxidant is better at slowing down the aging of skin cells to keep you looking younger longer. (Did you know that?!)

Water - Good hydration is key to healthy-looking skin, and there's nothing better than pure, clean water to quench your thirst. This includes tap water, duh.

Source: Men's Health

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Best Beauty Products

Anti-Ager to Firm - Olay Regenerist Fragrance Free Micro-Sculpting Cream ($25; olay.com). Peptides in this nicely priced cream firm sagging skin by strengthening its moisture barrier.

Anti-Ager to Lift - Origins Youthtopia Lift ($53; origins.com). This face cream's most valuable ingredient is natural buckbean extract. It boosts collagen levels for a more lifted appearance.

Whitening Toothpaste - Crest 3D Glamorous White ($4; 3Dwhite.com). The unique foaming action helps lift most stubborn stains in less than a week.

Self-Tanner - Jergens Natural Glow & Protect SPF 20 ($9; most stores). A natural-looking self tanner with sun protection. That was enough to win over Health Magazine's dermatologists. It doesn't streak or stink, either.


Source: Health Magazine

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Control Your Diabetes


When you consider that "glucose-intolerant" is another term for "diabetic," it's easy to see what you shouldn't eat. Namely, glucose-rich foods, such as bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes. But Mary Vernon, M.D., prefers a more positive approach: "I like to emphasize what people can enjoy." So, use the guidelines below to build a prescription diet. One caution: If you're currently taking medication for high blood pressure or high blood sugar, consult your physician first, as this diet will cause both to drop.

The Rules:
Eat until you're satisfied, not stuffed.
Don't skip meals, especially breakfast.
Include protein, such as meat, cheese, and nuts,
with every meal and snack.

The Foods 
Vegetables: Down as many as four servings a day of nonroot vegetables. That means broccoli, asparagus, spinach, and any other leafy green vegetable. One serving is 1 cup raw—about the size of a baseball—or 1/2 cup cooked (half a ball).
Meat and eggs: Eat as much of these foods—which include poultry and fish—as you want (i.e., until you're full).
Cheeses: Have up to 4 ounces of hard and firm cheeses daily—for instance, Parmesan, American, and cheddar. One serving is about the size of two dominoes.
Fruit: Limit yourself to 1 cup of berries or melon a day.
Nuts: One ounce a day.
Condiments: Mustard, horseradish, soy sauce, and Tabasco sauce.
Salad dressings: Oil and vinegar, and full-fat dressings—such as ranch—that contain no more than 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Oils: Olive and canola are best; use only small amounts of other oils.
Beverages: Drink 64 ounces of water a day. Then consume only two servings of diet soda per day and unsweetened tea and coffee as desired (decaf when possible).

Source: Men's Health

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Men: Perfect Your Shaving Technique

Dragging a blade across your face may seem like a daily act of violence, but shaving actually keeps your skin fresh. "Low grade friction from shaving stimulates collagen production and smooths the skin," says Kenneth Beer M.D., a dermatologist based in West Palm Beach, FL. The key qualifier: low-grade friction. Research shows that as little as a quarter of shaving debris can be hair; the remainder is sloughed-off skin cells. A rough cut removes cells that aren't ready for eviction, causing irritation says Dr. Beer. Your job is to ensure a smooth transaction.

Take Your Time - Shave in the shower or right after you step out. A study in the Journal of Materials Science revealed that moistened hairs require 30 percent less blade force to cut than dry ones do. Stubble and the skin beneath it needs at least three to four minutes to absorb moisture. Less pressure can reduce agitation of the hair follicle and create a cleaner cut along the middle of the hair.

Lube up - A preshave oil helps plump up dead skin cells with moisture, pushing them away from the face and leaving them exposed for cutting. Prepping with a hot washcloth on your face can further prepare your skin and hair.

Brush Your Beard - Shaving with a brush is the easiest and fastest way to prepare your skin and facial hair for a close and painless shave says Danielle Malka, founder of the grooming retailer 'eShave'. You make lather instantly as you swirl the brush against your face, lifting beard hair off the skin. Leave the cream on for 30-45 seconds and your beard will come off far easier.

Work the Angles - For an especially close shave, go with the grain, then lather up again and mow gently against or across your whiskers.

Close up Shop - Finish your shaving routine with a hydrating postshave cream to protect pores and nurture the rebuilding process beneath.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Canker Sores

Q: Why do I get canker sores? Are they the same as cold sores?

A: Canker sores are painful, open sores that pop up inside the mouth. Possible triggers include spicy or acidic foods, minor injury to the mouth (like from an overzealous tooth-brushing session) and in some cases, deficiencies in B vitamins, iron, or zinc. Canker sores are also more common in women, possibly because they are linked to hormonal changes. While they are generally harmless, if you get them more than a few times a year, talk to a doctor, since they could indicate you have a disease like celiac or Crohn's. Canker sores are different from cold sores, which are fluid-filled blisters caused by the herpes virus; they tend to appear outside of the mouth, around the lips and chin. Another big difference: Cold sore are contagious, canker sores are not.

Source: Health Magazine

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Echinacea

Research is conflicting on this flower extract's cold-fighting powers. What's more, long-term use—longer than 12 weeks—hasn't been proven safe.
Conditions:Immunity
Recommendations: Opt for zinc instead

Source: Men's Health

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Too Much Masturbation?

Q: I notice that the past few years i have masturbated more probably to everyday and have notice symptoms of adrenal fatigue and under active thyroid but when i stop masturbating for a few days or a week i feel better but not fully recovered.Can too much masturbation cause adrenal and thyroid problems? Before i started masturbating a lot i was basically in the best shape of my life, but now i notice a little deterioration of my muscles and i feel stressed and weak.I know i have masturbated a lot over the past 5 years and its not going to get better in a week but can you please give me idea of how long will it take for a full recovery?

-Anonymous

A: Submitted by Dr.Richards MD

Hello,

Yes, and not only thyroid and adrenal functioning abnormalities - over masturbation can lead to severe nervous and endocrine functioning alterations. The stress and muscle deterioration are through excessive stress and inflammatory response for increased norepinephrine, epinephrine, cortisol, histamine, and prostaglandin E2 levels.

It depends. It is very important that the underlying problem is properly addressed. There are also numerous factors that contribute to the recovery process, such as: the degree of exhaustion, gene expressions and neuroplasticity developed through the years, and lifestyle.

However, for the specific case - regular exercise, proper diet, massages, negative ion exposure, and sexual abstinence for 2 to 4 weeks may speed up the recovery so positive alterations should be observed in 2 to 4 months.


**Several sources have connected chronic masturbation with chronic fatigue, lower back pain, hair loss and testicular pain. These sources have also recommended limiting waxing your surfboard to 2-3 times a week if you are experiencing these symptoms and see if you notice them to recede.

Source: Cure-erectile-dysfunction.org , ehealthforum.com , askmen.com

Monday, September 24, 2012

Everyday Products for Better Skin

Q: A lot of guys are low maintenance. What Products do they need to use everyday?

A: The most important thing is choosing the right ingredients. If you are looking to change your skin for the better, look for these three groups of ingredients.

1. Antioxidants - Find products that contain a diverse cocktail - Vitamins C and E, lycopene, green tea, grape seed extract. They help fight the free radicals that break down collagen.

2. Chelators - They allow you to absorb trace minerals that are beneficial to the skin while detoxifying. Copper, calcium, magnesium and zinc can be helpful to the skin, but only in a certain organic form. Chelators allow you to extract the minerals that the skin needs while removing the harmful minerals that doesn't.

3. Collagen Boosters - Antiaging ingredients such as genestein, vitamin C, peptides and retinol. As men age, they lose 1 percent of their collagen every year, resulting in deeper creases and enlarged pores; these ingredients combat that loss.

Source: Men's Health

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Best Time to Exercise

Timing matters not only with meals, but with workouts, too. A recent study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness found that women who walked four times a week lost more fat mass when they hoofed it at 6p.m. compared to those who walked at 8a.m. Evening exercisers also ended up consuming more protein and eating fewer of their daily calories in the p.m. Multiple studies have found that early evening may be the best time to improve performance and build muscle, whether you're doing cardio or strength training. One possible reason: The body releases higher levels of muscle-building growth hormone in the early evening than in the morning, and exercise also boosts levels of that hormone, so time the two events may yield the best results.

Source: Health Magazine

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Health Threats You Can't Ignore!

Usually when you get a nosebleed or a pimple your first instinct is to head to the doctor's office. Most of the time, it's not something to worry about. Sometimes something that seems small is an indication of something bigger going on. These are "third-tier" complaints that just might be trying to warn you about a first-tier problem.

Pimple - Acne is the Trojan Horse of health. A bump that at first glance looks like a normal pimple may actually be a basal-cell carcinoma, a slow-growing form of skin cancer. So what's the difference between the two? The typical basal-cell carcinoma has a pearly appearance when shining light on it, and tiny blood vessels can be seen entering the nodule at the base, says Edward McClay, M.D. If you have a pimple that won't go away, have a dermatologist check it out. Don't pop it, it could spread. A BCC is 95 percent treatable when caught early.

The typical method of removal is scalpel and/or burning. This can leave scarring, so consider getting zapped with a continuous-wave Nd:Yag laser. Researchers in Egypt treated 37 patients with this device. 36 were completely cured and showed no signs of scarring. Also, make sure to keep slathering on sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and using 100% UV protection sunglasses; BCC rates in eyelids have doubled in recent years.


Source: Men's Health

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Beauty Questions

Q:How can I give my sun-protected skin a rosy glow?

A: Dust bronzer over your cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. Sweep on a blush that's the color your cheeks turn after exercising (it's your most flattering shade). If your skin is already rosy from the sun, skip blush and add a bit of shimmer to your cheeks in a pale pink. If you're darker, use peach to enhance your natural flush. Apply it on your cheekbones, moving up toward the hairline in short downward strokes. That's all you need to play up your glow.

Source: Health Magazine

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Healthy Heart: Estimate Your Risk

Hey Guys, are you doomed to heart disease? Given the fact that it's the most common killer of men, you might think so. But science has produced some nearly surefire strategies for not only treating a stricken ticker but also avoiding heart trouble in the first place. Research is coming out almost daily that improves on what we already know. Advice: Act on this wisdom. Sixty percent of young adults who did by eating right, exercising, keeping up their BMIs in check, not smoking, and going easy on the booze kept their heart disease risk low well into middle age, reports a study from Northwestern University. People who ignored these basic rules? All but less than 5 percent stayed in the low-risk category. Follow these experts' advice and you'll be a lifelong member of the low-risk club, too.

Estimate Your Risk - In the past century, researchers have begun to predict heart-disease risk by manipulating key numbers. The Framingham Heart Model- an algorithm that factors in your age, cholesterol, blood pressure, and other figures--remains a widely used prediction tool. Broaden the equation. Current research suggests that the Framingham Heart Model has some limitations: It doesn't consider family history, lifestyle, and body mass index. According to a study in BMC Medicine, a third of heart trouble occurs in people labeled as low risk by common prediction models. So if you use the online tool, don't place a lot of stock in the results until you and your doctor have fully analyzed your family history and any bad habits you have, such as smoking or excessive drinking.

Furthermore, be careful about which Framingham model you use. There's a more complex equation-based version and a simpler points-based version. In a 2010 study, it was found that the points-based system was the less accurate one: It classified 17 percent of men into treatment categories that differed from ones they would have wound up in had the equation-based model been used. Find the equation-based version at MensHealth.com/heartmodel

Source: Men's Health

Monday, September 3, 2012

Scrawny to Brawny

By Paul Kita

I've been called a pencil, a string bean, skin and bones. I've heard the three words no man who cares about his physique ever wants to hear: "You work out?" Trainers refer to use as ectomorphs to distinguish us from mesomorphs, the guys who always look likey they work out even when they don't.

My fellow ectomorphs and I prefer to call ourselves "hard gainers." We brush off the insults, chalk up our physiques to high metabolism, and take solace in the fact that some of us are good at enurance sports. At least that's what I used to do. Then I had my Charles Atlas moment. But it wasn't a sand-kicking bully who made me want to become bigger and stronger. It was a former girlfriend who wanted to hire movers to carry her furniture into a new apartment because she was afraid I'd hurt myself if I tried to help. I knew it was time to build strength and muscle. But before I could, I had to demolish five myths that hold skinny guys back.

Myth 1 - An ectomorph can't gain muscle. I almost puked during a test of my maximum bench press. Martin Rooney, C.S.C.S., director of the Parisi Speed School in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, explains why: "Lifting weights is a stimulus. It attacks your body-- everything from your muscles to your nervous system,: he says. "that was your body being challenged in a way it's never been before. It isn't used to that kind of stress. Now your muscles will rebuild and prepare for the next attack."

I'd need it: That first workout was humbling. At 6 feet tall and 146 pounds, I could deadlift just 105 pounds and bench press 95 pounds only three times. I could do 11 chinups, which isn't bad, and my 11.5 percent body fat would be the envy of many mesomorphs if they weren't already laughing at my 12-inch upper-arm girth or my wimpy 20-inch vertical jump. Rooney assured me that building up from this shaky platform would be difficult but not impossible, as long as I was willing to push myself. "Your body is an incredibly adaptive organism; That's why every time you lift, you have to challenge yourself to provide a greater and greater jolt to shock your muscles into another round of rebuilding."

Myth 2 - No matter how much he eats, a hard gainer can't put on weight. If you think you eat enough to build muscle, try this experiment (Courtesy of Alan Aragon, M.S., a nutritionist and Men's Health advisor from Thousand Oaks, CA). Pick a recent day that represents how you typically eat. Try to remember everything you consumed and plug it into a calorie calculator, like the one at nutritiondata.self.com. If you're like me, you'll see a problem. I estimated that I ate about 2,000 calories a day, but it was more like 1,700--nowhere near what I needed to maintain my existing muscle mass, let alone add to it. "Underweight people tend to over-estimate their daily calorie intake," Aragon says. "Then they incorrectly attribute their low weight with high metabolism."

Calories matter. But so do the sources of those calories. More food means higher levels of glucose circulating in your blood. That creates metabolic stress, leading to inflammation, which can lead to a whole host of problems, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Trying to build  a more muscular body with junk food is like trying to build a log cabin with wood drenched in lighter fluid. Aragon directed me toward whole grains, which provide fiber that may help regulate blood glucose, and foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to fight inflammation. But I dreaded to ask my next question: How much will I have to eat?

Myth 3 - He must eat like a pig. Aragon's nutrition plan called for 2,500 calories on workout days, including 213 grams of protein. that much protein amounts to almost 2.5 pounds of raw sirloin, or 34 large eggs! I had trouble stuffing it all down at first. It took me half an hour to finish breakfast, and my lunches in the company cafeteria horrified my coworkers. I realized I couldn't consume all my calories in three giant meals. I adapted: I kept a jug of almonds and a bunch of bananas at my desk for snacks. I stored a block of cheese and a gallon of chocolate milk in the office fridge. "Your body will tell you how it best processes calories. For some people, it's large meals. If you time your meals or snacks right, you should rarely feel as if you're force-feeding yourself," Aragon says.

Myth 4 - He must live in the gym. Each week I worked out 4 or 5 days, training for up to 6 hours total. But if I felt physically or mentally drained, I skipped a workout or two. If your body's sore, it's telling you it needs more time to recover. I'm convinced that the extra rest time enhanced my results.

Myth 5 - Results will be minor - This plan is tough, especially in the first few weeks. But once you're past the shock stage, you should see steady growth. "Beginning lifters can expect about 2 pounds of muscle growth in a month," Aragon says.

Key point: Each time you hit the gym, give your best effort. You may think it's just 1 rep you're missing, but that last rep is when your muscles are working hardest. Rooney retested me 4.5 months after my first visit. I deadlifted 250 pounds, and my 3-rep max on the bench press jumped to 165 pounds. I did 20 chinups, and my vertical leap soared to 26.5 inches. That's in addition to the 14 pounds I gained. It may not sound like much, but I added 2 inches to my biceps. My waist was still 32 inches, and my body fat actually decreased to 9.8 percent. But the sweetest reward wasn't measured with a barbell or tape measure. A friend mentioned that she was moving to a new apartment and asked if I could help with the furniture. "No problem," I said. (And it wasn't)

Source: Men's Health

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Save The Earth, Simply

Skip The Takeout - One to-go order often comes with more trash than food - Plastic tableware, napkins and condiment packages. At least ask them to hold what you don't need.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Shop Smart at the Drug Store

Almost 90 percent of the chemicals found in the products you slather onto your skin have never undergone any testing for toxicity. 60 percent contain products that are potential endocrine disrupters, says Jane Houlihan, vice president for research at the Environmental Working Group (EWG). It's a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C. One-third have ingredients that are likely carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). The Food and Drug Administration doesn't regulate the safety of ingredients used in cosmetic products. They defer to an industry-funded panel called the Cosmetics Ingredient Review, which to date has examined a mere 12 percent of the ingredients you use to groom yourself.

"The European Union operates by the precautionary principle, where if there's enough evidence pointing to the toxicity of a substance, they can ban it rather than wait for the final bit of evidence," says Mark Schapiro, author of Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power. "The United States, on the other hand, takes no action until there is final scientific data."

About 600 U.S. companies have voluntarily pledged to reformulate globally to meet EU standards. Until they all do, you can protect yourself by steering clear of a few key potential carcinogens and endocrine disrupters. Here's a list of the five most ubiquitous toxins to avoid, according to the EWG and Gary Ginsberg.

Toxin: 1,4-Dioxane    It usually hides under the name "sodium laureth sulfate" but is found in 56 distinct ingredients, including polyethylene glycol (PEG). The EPA lists it as a probable human carcinogen.

Toxin: Phthalates   This is usually called "fragrance" (everything I use has this...) a term for as many as 7,000 ingredients that are not required to be listed on labels due to trade-secret laws. These endocrine disrupters are linked to liver and kidney damage, obesity, and damaged sperm.

Toxin: Formaldehyde   It's the same stuff that's in embalming fluid and cigarette smoke, and it's found on labels under half a dozen different names, including "methylaldehyde" and "formalin". It's a known immune system toxicant and respiratory irritant and a probable human carcinogen, according to the National Toxicology Program.

Chemical: Hydroquinone  A chemical lightening agent in hair dyes and skin creams. It's listed as an "active ingredient." This is a skin irritant, immune-system toxicant, and neurotoxin. It's also a possible carcinogen.

Chemical: Parabens  Identified on labels as any ingredient with the suffix "-paraben" (butylparaben for example). These are possible endocrine disrupters and carcinogens, and they may impair fertility.

Source: Men's Health

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Tomatoes

One of Eat This, Not That's 8 Foods You Should Eat Everyday. There are two things you need to know about tomatoes: Red are the best, because they're packed with more of the antioxidant called lycopene, and processed tomatoes are just as potent as fresh ones, because it's easier for the body to absorb the lycopene. Studies show that a diet rich in lycopene can decrease your risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Aim for 22mg of lycopene a day, which is about eight red cherry tomatoes, or 8oz of tomato juice.
Substitutes: Red watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya, guava.
Fit it in: Ketchup, Ragu, low-sodium V8 juice, double the amount of tomato paste called for in a recipe

Source: Eat This, Not That

Friday, August 24, 2012

Stay In The Game

Buy running shoes after work - Shop at night, when your feet are swollen after a day of pounding, advises Chad Asplund, M.D., a physician at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Georgia and a running-shoe researcher. It approximates how big your feet will be after the first 3 miles of your run.

Exercise off road - Unstable surfaces train stable ankles.

 Beat the heat - Humid environments -- i.e., anywhere south of, say, Maine and east of Colorado -- only make asthma worse, as Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis well knows. He passed out on the field in 1997 from an asthma attack. "You can't just react to the problem. You have to make sure it's controlled," he says. Even though he can't change midday practice times, you can. Run early. Temperatures are lower, and so are the humidity and ozone levels that can induce an attack. (Find more tips online at lungusa.org.)


Source: Men's Health

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Save The Earth, Simply

Turn Off The Light - A single 60-watt bulb burning 12 hours a day for a year uses up to 6,300 gallons of H2O (it's used to help drive steam turbines in power plants). That's your recommended drinking water supply for 35 years. And switch to fluorescent bulbs. They last 10 times as long and can save two tons of coal a year per home.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Eat Carbs and Stay Slim

Eating (COMPLEX) carbs makes you thin for life - A recent multicenter study found that the slimmest people also ate the most (COMPLEX) carbs, and the chubbiest ate the least. The researchers concluded that your odds of getting and staying slim are best when carbs make up to 64% of your total daily caloric intake, or 361 grams.That’s the equivalent of several stuffed baked potatoes (a food we bet you’ve been afraid to eat for decades).Most low-carb diets limit you to fewer than 30% of total calories from carbs and sometimes contain as few as 30 grams of carbohydrates a day.

Source: Health Magazine

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Skip the Body Mask


Skip: the Body Mask
No need to fork over a fistful of cash for this one when you can briefly warm a hydrating body mask in the microwave and generously smear it all over to soothe chronically irritated skin and revitalize a dull, sallow complexion.


Source: Glamour

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

What's In Your Carry-On?

When he's not training stars like Anne Hathaway at his New York health center, wellness guru David Kirsch is busy teaching his two toddlers smart eating habits - a lesson he takes on the road. "We always bring lunch boxes filled with snacks like string cheese and almonds to the airport," he says. "You want something that's satisfying and nutritious."
 
Green Tea - "Flying is tough on the body," says Kirsch. "the recycled air, the altitude, and the guy sneezing next to you take a toll." Kirsch likes to relax and recharge with mint green tea, which is loaded with antioxidants and bioflavonoids that boost immunity and bust free radicals. Another bonus is that it won't increase jet lag or sap energy like a glass of wine.

Tyrosine Pills - To stay healthy and energized, Kirsch periodically spritzes B12 spray under his tongue and pops a supplement containing tyrosine, a natural antidepressant. "the combination is an amazing energy booster and helps build up your immune system too." Check out Twinlab L-Tyrosine Plus capsules, $19 vitaminshoppe.com or check out David's own spray $20 at davidkirschwellness.com

Low-Sugar Protein Bar - Kirsch skips in-flight meals. They are loaded with salt, sugar and carbs. Protein bars are a healthier option, but look for ones that have at least 20 grams of protein and no more than 8 grams of sugar. Top that and you might as well be snacking on a snickers. Craving a traditional meal? Scope out the terminal for a salad with grilled protein, like McDonald's chicken ceasar salad (without the dressing). David has his own protein bars for $5 on davidkirschwellness.com (I told you people that McDonald's is not the devil!!! Heidi Klum's trainer just said so.)

Snug Socks - Blood circulation slows down in the air, resulting in swollen feet - a major pain in the arch. Kirsch kicks up the flow with a pair of tight but not constricting socks, a tip he shared with client Heidi Klum when she was traveling while pregnant. Try Smart Wool Adventurer wool-nylon socks $2 at smartwool.com

Water-Rich Veggies - Kirsch drinks and eats for maximum hydration. He recommends eat raw veggies with high water content, like red peppers, which contain more vitamin C than an orange. "You're fighting off the possible effects of germs and dehydration with every bite," he says.

Source: InStyle

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Find the Right Toothpaste

What Flavor? - Pick any. The only reason flavor matters is because you might now brush for long enough if you don't like the taste.

Gel or Paste? - There's no functional difference.

What should I use for tartar buildup? - Use a toothpaste with sodium pyrophosphate, which bonds with tartar and dissolves it.

What if my teeth are sensitive? - Use toothpaste with potassium nitrate. It fills in tiny holes on your teeth that cause pain.


Anything with fluroide!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Add This to Your Hair Care Kit ASAP!


Available for purchase for $19 at Redken salons, in short it's a hair exfoliator that's to be used post-shampoo but pre-conditioner. Enriched with sea algae, soy protein, and aloe vera, this paraben-, sulfate-, and silicone-free formulation gently buffs your rough, dry strands with fine gritty grains of sand-like pumice stone, leaving your locks soft, shiny, and deliciously scented to boot. Certainly a new twist on the term 'hair polish', right?

I'd like to go on record as saying the following: If you've never exfoliated your hair, you're seriously missing out. While this product doesn't stamp out split ends, it's absolutely akin to a serious shower-scrubbing session for dull skin.

Every now and then, a beauty product hits the market and shakes things up a bit, as its purpose is a real game changer. Redken's super awesome Refining Sea Polish from their Nature's Rescue collection more than fits the bill.

Source: Glamour


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Skip the Bikini Facial


Skip: the Vagacial (a.k.a. Bikini Facial)
Speaking of, the benefits of removing hair down there are often outweighed by the consequences, a.k.a. the unwelcomed arrival of irritating ingrown hairs. Good news—there is a quick fix. Just be vag-ilant and gently exfoliate your bikini area twice daily for a full week following your wax.

Source: Glamour

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Reload Your Guns Pt. 5

WORKOUT B

1A. Close-grip chinup - Hang from a bar using an underhand grip, but keep your hands 6 to 8 inches apart. Perform a chinup. Perform 1 set each of 8 reps, 6 reps, and 4 reps. Do a last set of as many as you can. Rest 2 minutes after each set.

1B. Dip - Grasp the bars of a dip station and lift yourself so your arms are straight. Lower your body until your upper arms dip just below your elbows. Do 1 set each of 8 reps, 6 reps, and 4 reps, and 1 last set of as many as you can. Rest 2 minutes after each set.

2A. Seated Rack Lockout - Sit in a power rack and set a bar on the safety pins at ear level. Press the bar above your head, and then lower back to the pins, keeping the tension on your muscles in the bottom position. Do 3 sets of 8 reps, resting 1 minute after each set.



2B. Barbell Row - Grab a barbell just beyond shoulder width and hold it at arm's length. Bend at your hips and knees. Pull the bar to your upper abs. Do 3 sets of 8 reps, resting 1 minute after each set.





3A. Decline Dumbbell Triceps Extension - Lie faceup on a decline bench and hold dumbbels over your head with your arms straight. Lower the dumbbells until your forearms are beyond parallel to the floor. Do 2 sets of 8 reps, and then 1 set of 15 reps. Rest 30 seconds after each set.

3B. Dumbbell Curl Series (Incline/Seated/Decline) - This is a three-exercise sequence of curls, all performed with your palms facing forward. Do 6 reps each of the curl while lying faceup on an incline bench, while seated on a flat bench, and while lying facedown on an incline bench. That's 1 set; do 2. Rest 30 seconds after each set.


Source: Men's Health

Sunday, August 5, 2012

UrbanCargo.com

Hey guys,

Stumbled upon this cool site that sends you travel-sized products that match your skin and hair type. Not sure what products to use? They ask you questions and create a profile just for you and send you the products that would work best for you. This is a great tool that only costs17.95 and is sent to you every quarter.

www.urbancargo.com

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Reload Your Guns Pt. 4

The Big Arms Workout, by Alwyn Cosgrove, C.S.C.S.

This arm-expanding workout overloads your biceps and triceps for guaranteed growth. The program is only 2 days a week, because the exercises challenge all the muscles in your body; you'll need the rest of the week to recover and grow! On the first day, you'll focus on all the common weaknesses that limit your ability to add size to your arms. Day 2's aggressive approach directly targets your biceps and triceps so you can pack on more muscle. Do workout A once a week and workout B once a week, resting at least 2 days in between sessions. Alternate between sets of exercises of the same number (i.e. Do one set of 2A followed by a set of 2B) until you complete all the sets in that pairing. Use the specified number of repetitions, sets, and rest periods included with each exercise description.

WORKOUT A
1. Snatch Grip Deadlift on Box - Squat on a 6-inch box or step and grab a barbell using an overhand grip that's about twice shoulder width. Without rounding your lower back, pull your torso up and back, thrust your hips forward, and stand. Do 4 sets of 6 reps. Rest for 2 minutes between sets.

2A. YTWL Dumbbell Raise Series - YTWL are letters you will be sort of making with your arms while doing these four mini raies. Perform this sequence of shoulder raises on an incline bench. Do 8 reps of the Y, rest 30 seconds. Repeat until each letter has been finished, and that is one set. Do three sets. For Y, start with your arms hanging straight down. Raise them to shoulder height at a 30-degree angle with the thumb sides of your hands facing up. For T, let your arms hang with your palms facing forward. Raise your arms straight out to the sides until they're at shoulder level. For W, bend your elbows 90 degrees. Without changing the bend in your elbows, raise your upper arms until your palms face the floor. For L, Let your arms hang straight down, palms facing behind you. Row the weights to the sides of your chest. Rotate your forearms up and back as far as you can.






2B. Offset Dumbbell Lunge - Hold a dumbbell in your right hand next to your right shoulder. Lunge forward with your right leg and return to the starting position. Do 8 reps on each side. Rest 1 minute and do 3 sets total.



3A. Inverted Row - Hang from a low bar with your body straight from head to ankles and your heels on the floor. Pull your body up until your chest touches the bar. Do 3 sets of 8 reps. Rest 30 seconds between each set.

3B. T-Pushup - Assume a pushup position and grip a pair of hexagonal dumbbells so they don't roll. Lower your body to the floor. As you push back up, rotate your body to the right and raise a dumbbell straight above your shoulder. Each rep, alternate between rotating left and right. Do 3 sets of 8 reps, resting 1 minute between each set.

4A. Prone Cobra - Lie facedown, your arms at your sides. Lift your head, chest, arms and legs so that only your hips are touching the floor. Hold the position for three minutes total, resting as needed.

4B. Farmer's Walk - Grab a pair of heavy dumbbells and walk for 30 to 75 seconds. Make it harder by grasping each dumbbell by its end. Once you feel you can go longer than 75 seconds, switch to heavier weights.

Source: Men's Health

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Reload Your Guns Pt. 3

Weak Link 1: External Rotators - Your upper body assigns two of its biggest and strongest muscles, the lats and the pectoralis major, the task of internal arm rotation (Turning your arm inward). For external rotation, it assigns a couple of small muscles (Infraspinatus and teres minor). If your external rotators are weak compared with your internal rotators, your body will be reluctant to increase your upper body strength and power, which would set you up for injury. The Big Arms Workout will target your external rotators, balance your strength and allow you to lift more weight.

Weak Link 2: Trapezius - Your biceps and the main part of your triceps originate on your shoulder blades, the triangles of bone at the corners of your upper back. The actions of your shoulder blades are largely controlled by your trapezius. The stronger your traps, the more solid the platform you have to build everything else attached to your shoulder blades (That is, your arm muscles). By adding farmer's walks, dead lifts and inverted rows, you can build the strength needed to add weight when you train your arms directly.

Weak Link 3: Glutes - Your glutes are part of a chain of muscles and other tissues that also includes your lats. They work together to stabilize your spine when you move. When you do an exercise like a chinup, your biceps and lats work to move your body while your lats and glutes protect your spine and help prevent an injury. That's why lat pulldowns are a mediocre substitute for chinups. Standing and lifting your body (free weights) trains your core to work harder to stay stable.

When your glutes and lats are strong and your spine is safe, chinups enable your biceps to work as hard as you want to push them. That's why the prone cobra, which strengthens your gluts and back is another key exercise for building great arms. Part 4 will go over The Big Arms Workout

Source: Men's Health

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Reload Your Guns Pt. 2

Restore Your Core - At the gym, try this test: Go to the triceps push-down station, select the heaviest weight you can use for 10 reps, and do a set. Rest a few minutes, and then repeat the set...standing on one leg. You won't be able to knock off 10 reps, and the reason is obvious. Your triceps didn't become weaker, they lost some of their support base.

A weaker or less balanced base of support limits the strength and power your arm muscles can generate, while a stronger core enables all your muscles to work harder, longer, and more productively.

Shore Up Your Weak Links - Face a mirror with a 30 pound dumbbell in your non-dominant hand and do a set of curls. Watch your body closely, especially as you tire. Notice how your upper arm pinches in against the side of your torso after a few reps? That's caused by muscles in your shoulder called external rotators. They're pulling your arm into a stronger and more stable position. Deeper into the set, you'll need more momentum to start each lift. Your shoulder blade will rise up and drop down as you curl. That's your trapezius - The diamond-shaped pair of muscles that runs from your neck to your middle back and out to the edge of each shoulder, helping your biceps do the job.

Finally, as your biceps near exhaustion, notice how you squeeze your butt cheeks and lean backward to complete your last two or three reps. That's the action of the muscles in the back side of your body, including your hamstrings, glutes, and spinal erectors. You won't find this mentioned in the standard bodybuilding playbook, but these are the muscles that enable or limit potential growth of your biceps and triceps. In Part 3, we will discuss each weak link.

Source: Men's Health

Monday, July 23, 2012

Reload Your Guns Pt. 1

Want big arms? Use the right ammo: Sculpt your biceps and triceps with lifts that target your weakest links. Your arms are too small. Or at least you probably feel that way, if you're like the average guy. Chances are it's not because you're neglecting those muscles. In 15 years of training clients, Alwyn Cosgrove C.S.C.S. has yet to find a would-be arms dealer who hasn't tried every biceps curl and triceps extension in the book.

So what's the problem? Your upper back, your core, and your glutes. When all of those muscles are weaker than they should be, they act like brakes on the strength and size of everything else. Especially your arms. The problem is simple to correct, as long as you're willing to invest time doing the Big Arms Workout to be discussed at a later posting. In 4 weeks you can build new muscle from head to toe, and put yourself back in the arms race.

Call in the Reinforcements: Physiology 101. Your biceps bend your arms, and you work them with curls. You probably figured this out as a kid when Dad told you to make a muscle for a photo. Chances are you did a curl the first time you ever picked up a dumbbell, and you've been doing them ever since. Ask yourself when the last time is that you increased the weight that you use on arm exercises.

Physiology 201: If you want your arms to grow, you need to create overload and challenge them with progressively heavier weights. They'll adapt by growing bigger and stronger. Since they aren't receiving that overload from curls, you need to recruit bigger muscles to help them grow in tandem.

Start with the chin up. This move forces you to lift your entire body--several times the amount of weight you could curl--on each rep. Your lats are the fan-shaped middle-back muscles that run from your armpits to your spine. They do a great deal of the work. Your biceps are more than just bystanders and are working as hard as they can. Without their help, you couldn't do a single rep. Target your triceps the same way. Do body-weight dips or close-grip bench presses with a weight you use for extensions. Make these heavy, multimuscle exercises the focus of your upper-body training. After you've performed them, add curls and extensions to give your arms some extra oomph.


Source: Men's Health

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Beauty Tips Overheard in the Glamour Bathroom


1. Try Serum On Oily Skin - Senior beauty editor Baze Mpinja uses a light moisturizing serum instead of a traditional cream. "It keeps my skin from looking too shiny," she says to Yes to Blueberries Intensive Skin Repair Serum ($20, yestocarrots.com).

2. Keep One Great Brush In Your Bag - "Pricey, but worth it. It can do foundation, bronzer, blush, anything," says associate beauty wrister Amber Kallor about her beloved five-year old Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Super Soft Buff Powder Brush ($46, kevynaucoin.com)

3. Wake Up Your Face With Lipstick - We spotted associate shopping market editor Lauren Vreeland applying Nars Lipstick in Heat Wave ($24, narscosmetics.com): "This fiery orange-red looks good on everyone! One swipe transforms your face."

4. Spritz On Some Energy - We found beauty director Felicia Milewicz and she revealed her secret scent for the first time: Les Exclusifs de Chanel Coromandel ($210 for 6.8 oz. at chanel.com) "Super sexy, and it gives me an instant energy boost!"  ... I'll stick with Calvin Klein. I'm not a rich beauty editor.

Source: Glamour

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Blueberries

One of Eat This, Not That's 8 Foods You Should Eat Everyday. Blueberries are host to more antioxidants than any other North American fruit. They help prevent cancer, diabetes, and age-related memory changes. Studies show that blueberries, which are rich in fiber and vitamins A and C, also boost cardiovascular health. Aim for 1 cup fresh blueberries a day, or 1/2 cup frozen or dried.
Substitutes: Acai berries, purple grapes, prunes, raisins, strawberries
Fit it in: Dried, frozen, jam

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Stay In The Game

Hit the pool early - Inhaling organic material, such as hair, skin, and urine, can cause breathing problems. Schedule your lap sessions early: Fewer people in the pool means less splashing, and less of their debris left behind in the water.

Arm yourself to the teeth - Men who wear custom-fitted mouth guards reduce their risk of dental injuries by 82 percent, according to a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lay out the money for a custom-fitted guard and it'll last for years. So will your smile.

 Smooth out tendon problems - Ask your doctor about ultrasound needle therapy. The minimally invasive procedure uses ultrasound to guide a needle, which doctors use to smooth bone, break up calcifications, and fix scar tissue. Sixty-five percent of patients who underwent the therapy saw improvement, and a session takes only 5 to 15 minutes.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Cellulite Treatment


Skip: the Cellulite Treatment
This service is offered under a variety of brand names and several different techniques, but I suggest keeping things simple—just invest in a dry brush. A few preshower strokes a day not only exfoliate dimply gams but also aid in stimulating blood circulation and toxic lymphatic drainage, both of which are key to reducing the appearance—and existence—of unsightly cellulite.

Source: Glamour

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Taylor Lautner: Create Tension


Create Tension
Free weights are best, but they have a drawback: Some parts of a lift are easier than others, so your muscles aren't being worked consistently. That's why Lautner often attaches giant rubber bands to a bar or dumbbell he's going to lift, and then anchors the bands to the base of a power rack or a pair of heavy dumbbells. "The bands create more tension, making the lift harder and forcing your muscles to peak out at the top of the movement," Yuam says. As a result, your body recruits more muscle fibers and works them harder, accelerating growth. Bands are available in most gyms.

Source: Men's Health

Monday, July 2, 2012

Beauty Tricks That Make You Look Thinner


Slimming Makeup Trick: Strategic Contouring
Facial contouring is a DIY slimming makeup trick that’s great for every day. Just choose a bronzing powder or a deep blush that’s a shade or two darker than your complexion or foundation. Sweep it upward from under your cheekbone to the top of your ears, and lightly dust it under your chin and jawline.

Source: Glamour

Friday, June 22, 2012

Guys: Stop Time

A dab of lotion on your face cannot counter years of abuse. These strategies from Dermatologist Brad Katchen, M.D., will help you face the passage from your college years to middle age.

20s - The problem is acne now, sun damage later. In the morning, apply an SPF 15 or higher moisturizer to prevent dryness and shield UV rays. Try Eshu Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 30+. $30, sephora.com. Discourage blemishes with a cleanser. Avoid harsh scrubs, these can actually stimulate oil production if you rub too hard. An exfoliating cleanser with glycolic acids does the job without elbow grease. Try Anthony Logistics for Men Glycolic Facial Cleanser, $21, anthony.com




30s - The problem is that your career is taking off--And so are your wrinkles. Every morning, use a cream with sirtuins and other ingredients that can stimulate cell growth and collagen production to bolster the fragile skin around your eyes. Try Lab Series Skincare of Men Mas LS Instant Eye Lift, $42, labseries.com. Evening is the best time to treat pigmentation and lines. Swipe your face before bed with an exfoliating pad; the fruit acids can gently clear off old cells and reveal fresh skin. Try Origins Brighter by Nature, $40, origins.com




40s - The problem is that wrinkles deepen and skin loses elasticity. The fine lines from your 30s become crevices (Jesus!). We need antioxidants. Sunscreen remains key, and a cream that contains Vitamin C can protect against damaging free radicals generated by sun and pollution. Try Kiehls Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, $58, kiehls.com. A lightweight serum added under a lotion (or worn alone) can keep your skin cells reproducing as you rest. Try Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum, $60, dermalogica.com. Visit your dermatologist regularly for treatment and cancer screenings. Exfoliating treatments from chemical peels to Fraxel laser resurfacing can return the luster to your face.

Source: Men's Health

Monday, June 18, 2012

Age-Proof Your Eyes

Wrinkled, baggy, or dark skin around your eyes can make you look years older than you really are. Save them now. Dermatologists Joel Schlessinger, M.D., and Ariel Ostad, M.D. give their advice for DIY solutions.

Eat Healthy Meals - The more salt and booze you consume, the more fluids you retain, puffing your eyes. But back on both, as well as sugar. A high-sugar diet can generate harmful molecules that damage collagen, leading to wrinkles.


Sleep on Your Back - If you're on your side or stomach, the pressure of your head pressed against the pillow can cause permanent creases around your eyes. Try sleeping face-up and elevate your head with an extra pillow to prevent fluid from pooling in your face.

Wear Tea - Green, chamomile, and black teas have astringents that constrict blood vessels and pull skin taut. Steep two bags, let them cool. Wrap each in a clean dishcloth and lie down while placing a bag over each eye closed for five to ten minutes.

Don't Squint - The skin around your eye is 1/13 the thickness of the skin on your palms. Habitual squinting can forge deep crevices. Wear sunglasses outdoors.

Use Your Ring Finger - It's weaker than your pointer finger. Touching your eyes with your stronger finger tends to stretch the skin.

Peel a Potato - Potato starch has anti-inflammatory properties, so it's good for soothing redness and irritation. Peel and grate a raw potato, and then mash it and wrap it in a clean dishcloth. Lie down and place the pouch on your eyes for fifteen minutes.

Source: Men's Health

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Wake-Up Call!

What you need to know to keep your face looking good.


Fast foods, skipped workouts, fights with your boss, and lack of sleep will eventually take a toll on your face. Besides sun damage, loss of collagen is a prime reason men's faces show signs of aging. This protein gives skin its plumpness--a baby's cheeks have plenty of it; your favorite beatnik's mug does not. So, if you want to avoid looking like the crypt-keeper later, adopt good habits and start using better skin-care products now.

Try these tips to look fresh and alert all day


Dark Circles -  Allergies and sinus problems cause the blood vessels around your eyes to dilate, creating a purplish hue. Another culprit: aging. Loss of collagen thins the skin around the eyes, making blood vessels more visible. An eye cream with caffeine constricts blood vessels. Pat a pea-sized amount onto circles morning and night. I suggest Vita-K Dark Circles. It's around $12 at WalMart.

Lackluster Skin -  Alcohol, caffeine, and stress inhibit skin cells from turning over at a normal speed, leaving behind a layer of face dulling dead skin. Morning and night, use a moisturizer with alpha hydroxy acids. It hydrates your skin and sloughs away dead cells. I suggest Neutrogena Healthy Skin Moisturizer with 15 SPF. It's a multi-vitamin treatment with alpha hydroxy. Around $11 at Target.

Bloodshot Eyes - When eyes are oxygen depleted -- from booze, allergies, or starting at a computer screen-- they pump extra blood to compensate. Replace moisture by using eye drops a few times a day. Drops also keep you from rubbing your eyes, which can make things worse.

Source: Men's Health

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