Beauty Questions

Q: I wear glasses. What makeup should I use to enhance my eyes?


A: When you have lenses covering your eyes, you want to intensify their definition. Try a swipe of jet-black liner along the upper lashes, then glide a beige liner along the bottom inner rims to brighten and conceal any redness. A dab of pale, shimmery highlighter on brow bones and inner eye corners gives even more pop. If your frames are a vibrant hue, stick with neutral shadows to avoid a color clash.
Source: London makeup artist Jane Bradley

Don't Look, Just Leap

17 things you've probably never done, but should.

1. Approach and engage a pretty boy/girl in conversation with no prompting from anyone. They might not want to talk.  They might even tell you to go jump off a cliff. Then again, they might not.

2. Be debt-free. Compounding interest is like a sorority girl on Ecstacy. She'll go both ways, but you get a hell of a lot more out of it when she's going your way.

3. Try the sport that you ridicule most. Golfers and skateboarders wouldn't be so smug if they knew how difficult the other guy's favorite activity is.

4. Finish something early.

5. Let someone else brag about the cool thing you did.

6. A mercy flush

7. Disagree with the person you fear most.

8. Read a novel with more than 300 pages, written before 1950, set somewhere other than the United States.

9. Eat brussel sprouts. Pretend a gun is pointed at your temple and you have a choice: Take them orally or another way.

10. You think you're tough, Say exactly what's on your mind when you're at your most vulnerable. We'll see how tough you are.

11. Say "Cool tat" the next time you see intricate tribal are on the small of a woman's back. She knows what you're really saying, but verbal subtleties like this can mean the difference between receiving an amused smile and waking up in the ICU.

12. Embrace the male carpe diem dealth cliche. You will die, friend. Dozens of bungee jumping, skydiving, scuba diving, rock climbing, boxing, surfing and motorcross outfits are depending on your "holy crap" realization or mortality to make a living. Why wait? Fix your roof when it's sunny.

13. Leave work early for a midweek afternoon ball game. Tell no one. Go alone. Strive to notice the subtleties TV doesn't show. Toss the ticket stub on the way out; you were never there. I guarantee you'll remember this game longer than if you got permission from your wife and went with five buddies.

14. Go a week without quoting anyone. It suddenly becomes harder to have anything to speak about.

15. Pursue a man/woman not because she's hot, but because she's cool.

16. But a stock based on research you did all by yourself, from scratch. Nailing a six-bagger on your own beats Maria Bartiromo's sloppy seconds any trading day.

17. Ask questions first. Save your bullets for later.

Kitchen Confidential Part 5

Gail Simmons - A judge on Bravo's Top Chef is the special projects director at Food & Wine.

Tipping Point - I weight myself twice a year- at the doctor's office. I do have ups and downs of probably five pounds; I judge based on how my clothes fit, and I've been either a size 6 or 8 for at least ten years now. Could I stand to lose five or ten pounds? Sure. But I can't make losing weight my life's work. I've never understood people who can survive on just salad and grilled chicken breast. Food is a great pleasure-it's not the enemy, and it shouldn't be a source of guilt.

The Strategy - I go to restaurants at least five times a week, and I don't finish everything, which is so counter to how I was raised. My mantra is, "There will be another meal." I'm incredibly fortunate to have this job and access to great restaurants, so even if this foie gras or lobster is incredible, I know I will eat lobster again. I also exercise. I live in NYC and walk home from dinner whenever I can. I always say if I lived anywhere else, I'd be ten pounds heavier. I'm also a runner

Weight Maintenance - For snacks, I keep a little dark chocolate and unsulfured dried fruit. The Bananas Flattened from Trader Joe's are like candy. I don't keep processed food or refined flour in my kitchen. If I have pretzels, they're whole grain; if it's pasta, whole wheat. I know it's not going to change my life, but a little fiber is always a good thing. Before shooting Top Chef: Just Desserts, I start each day with kale and cucumber juice and poached eggs over a bowl of wilted spinach. That way, I have protein and vegetables before eating dessert for the rest of the day.

Source: Allure

Kitchen Confidential Part 4

Ramani Durvasula - Durvasula is a professor of psychology specializing in diet and exercise at California State Univ. Los Angeles and the consulting psychologist on Bravo's Thintervention With Jackie Warner.

Tipping Point - By my late 30's, I was married and had two kids and was up for tenure, and probably eating three to four thousand calories a day. My weight was up to 200 pounds- when you're 5'5'' like me, that is obese. I just wasn't paying attention. My daughter started going to a posh kindergarten, and those other mothers were so unkind to me; it was like high school. So yeah, revenge is what motivated me.

The Strategy - I maintain my weight by eating 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day. Mostly I changed my habits. Bad eating, like any bad habit, is automatic. We talk about this in addiction study all the time-breaking the chain of automatic. I did that with food. I lost 80 pounds in seventeen months.

Weight Maintenance - I got a child lock and kept it on the cabinet that held my kids' snacks. The lock required two hands, and I couldn't open it mindlessly, and it took enough time for me to think why I'm doing this just to get a snack. I still talk to myself aloud int he car when I pass In-N-Out burger:  "Why do you want that?" When my kids are with my ex-husband, I eat alone. Eating alone makes me eat too fast and too much, so I will call a friend to talk to them while I eat. I still eat all the time, as long as it's fruits and vegetables. Those are unlimited, and really, who craves more than two peaches in one sitting? For lunch, I'll have nonfat Greek yogurt, or nonfat cottage cheese mixed with salsa or Indian spices and pickled mango. For snack: grapes, salty seaweed snacks, and I love kale chips. I leave almonds in the car, because in L.A., everything else melts. At least five days a week I do 45 minutes of brisk walking on a treadmill, then fifteen minutes of weights, ten minutes of squats and lunges, and 200 crunches.

Source: Allure

Kitchen Confidential Part 3

Felicia Stoler - A registered dietician, Stoler is the author of Living Skinny in Fat Genes.

Tipping Point - In my mid-twenties, I went from a size 4 to a size 8. I worked long hours at a law firm and didn't exercise, and also didn't realize that I couldn't eat and drink the way I used to in college. That bridesmaid with the chubby face in the photos at my sister's wedding? That was me. That's when I went to the doctor, worried that my big tummy was caused by an ovarian cyst. I was directed instead to a nutritionist who helped me lose 25 pounds. It's because of her that I studied nutrition instead of going to law school.

The Strategy - I have to practice what I preach. I exercise regularly, I eat a lot of fiber, and I watch my calories. I eat foods I love, but not all the time. The 100 calorie packs of chips and crackers are big in my house. Full-sized bags are too tempting!

Weight Maintenance - There comes a point where you have to start paying attention to what you're eating and how it's going to benefit you. I don't eat lots of fried foods. I don't eat mayonnaise, but I put a little hummus in chicken or tuna salad. Same texture, more protein. Instead of butter, I use Smart Balance, which has plant sterols that block the absorption of cholesterol. I pack almonds in an Altoids tin and keep fruit leathers in my purse. I pay attention to everything I drink. I cut back on alcohol, especially in the summer, because I'm tempted to drink gin and tonics. Over the years, I've fallen in an out of love with running, but now I bike or walk. My family and I almost always go for a half-hour walk after dinner.

Source: Allure

Kitchen Confidential Part 2

Melissa Clark - Clark is a food columnist for The New York Times.

Tipping Point - I was always thin until I got to college. The food at the cafeteria grossed me out, so I ended up eating mostly peanut butter and bacon. I didn't exercise, and I ate too much and drank too much. By the end of my freshman year, I had gained 35 pounds. I was back at my parents' house, looking at myself in the same childhood mirror that I was used to looking skinny in . I asked my mother, who is never critical, how I looked and she said, "You've looked thinner before." That was the very moment I knew I had to do something.

The Strategy - I lost more than 40 pounds over a year or so, mostly by counting calories. My daily goal was 1,200, which I always exceeded. Usually it was more like 1,500. I also started running, which I never wanted to do. My friend told me, "Think of it as 20 minutes a day that will make you happy and thin." That still motivates me.

Weight Maintenance - I've found that what you think is hunger is often just a craving. You can usually wait it out; in 20 minutes or so, it's gone. I only eat when I'm truly hungry, and when I feed the beast exactly what it wants, it turns out I don't need that much (SNOB DIET!!!). Usually, it's toast with peanut butter, tomato or avocado. A lot of cooks end up eating the equivalent of two meals-One as they prep and one at the table. So, when I work, I'm always thinking that 'this is for cooking' and 'this is for eating', so when I sit down, the experience and calories register. Fat is good. A little makes you feel more full. I can't do fat-free dairy, so I have whole milk and a little sugar in my coffee, But that's usually enough for breakfast. I order steamed veggies from Chinese restaurants often, but I never eat them naked. I have to have a drizzle of sesame oil and soy sauce. When I'm not working, I make a point of ordering a salad for dinner, but never the one with the lowest calories. I'll get the blue cheese and bacon. I leave some of that good stuff on the plate, but still get a small taste of it in every bite.

Kitchen Confidential Part 1

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And by "good intentions" I mean an unsalted high-fiber rye bran cracker that flatlines your taste buds and leaves you craving a Snickers. People who actually work with food - those who prepare it, study it or advise their clients not to eat too much of it know that the principles of weight loss and the practice are often two very different things. In this 5 part series are the insights of experts, including a doctor and a food writer on losing/maintaining weight. Not a rye-bran cracker in sight!

Jennifer Warren - Warren is medical director of the Physicians Healthy Weight Center in North Hampton, NH (Search for it on facebook). She is also (You guessed it!) a physician.

Tipping Point - I grew up athletic. I played tennis, taught swimming, rowed crew in college. If I ever felt I needed to lose ten pounds, I exercised more. But in my mid-20s, I gained 65 pounds with my first pregnancy and never fully lost the weight. I put on even more with my second baby. Thirteen years ago, I was skiing with my brother who had lost a leg to cancer and it was his first time out. He turned to me and said "Race ya!" He was off, and within four feet I had fallen; my center of gravity wasn't working the way I was used to. By the time I got up, I couldn't even see him. I remember thinking, Are you kidding me? I am more disabled by my weight than he is by losing a leg.

The Strategy - I'm embarrassed to admit that I tried over-the-counter supplements and fen-phen. They worked, and I lost 30 pounds in about three months, but as a doctor, I knew how dangerous those solutions were. When that weight crept back on, I did Jenny Craig. I would lose and regain the same 30 pounds. I started reading everything I could about nutrition, which led me to what's now known as "Low glycemic index" eating- and I dropped from 200 to 120 in eighteen months.

Weight Maintenance - Because carbs make me put on weight, I always eat them with protein, no matter what. Even if it's just an apple, I'll also try to have a low-fat cheese stick. For breakfast, I have a chocolate protein shake with berries for texture and fiber. For lunch, I might have non fat Greek yogurt and lean chicken or a buffalo burger. At dinner, I have salad and grilled chicken or fish. When my husband and I have dinner out, we don't allow bread or chips on the table. I remind myself that it's just a piece of bread, not the key to happiness. Then we split a salad and a protein entree. I used to love candy, but now I eat Greek yogurt with peanut butter or cocoa-coated almonds mixed in. I have a library of more than 200 workout DVDs, I don't have to leave the house to get a good workout. If I have twenty minutes, I do one. I don't get bored.


My thoughts - This woman is very smart, and makes great choices. As a 24 year old male, It does sound like her whole life is deprivation, though. I don't know anyone that can eat just yogurt and chicken for lunch and wait all the way to seven o'clock to eat a lame salad and chicken breast. Carbs are not the enemy. Refined carbs are the enemy. A whole wheat bun with that chicken won't hurt you, and cutting back too much on carbs will keep you a zombie all day.

Source: Allure

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.

Nosebleed - We usually write off random nosebleeds because we think we know the cause-dry air, aggresive nose blowing, angry ex girlfriends... But out-of-the-blue nosebleeds can also be one of the few outward signs of high blood pressure, a condition that strikes nearly 8 percent of men between the ages of 20 and 34. If you don't have your blood pressure checked anually, your tip-off may come from a nasal gush. The small vessels in the nose have tiny cracks, and the high pressure pushes blood out of them. Make an appintment with your Doc and get yourself checked out. Anything between 120/80 and 139/89 is Pre-Hypertension ( The numbers that come right before high BP is diagnosed ). Anything over 140/90 or higher indicates full-blown high BP and the need for meds.

                   Whatever your score, try to begin every morning with oatmeal topped with flaxseed (Gross, I would stick with fresh blueberries). People who eat foods high in Omega-3 and fiber drop their BP as much as 3 points.

Source: Men's Health

How To Make People Go Away

Here are six typical people that might be complicating your life. Below will be a possible way of making them go away.

Tyrannical Boss - He is complicating your life by insisting you're on call 24/7. Simplify your life by clocking out at 5. Don't forget to give a cheerful "See you tomorrow!" in his direction. Sometimes you need to manage your boss' expectations. Leave the office at the same time every day and limit weekend work. Don't worry about being fired: If you were doing a bad job, you wouldn't have so much to do.

The Chatty Coworker - They are complicating your life by becoming a permanent fixture at your office door, stifling your ability to IM your friends. Simplify your life by boring them to death. Don't engage them. Don't look at them or say anything that might lengthen the conversation. Eventually they will stop coming by.

The Nagging Mother in Law - She complicates your life by giving you unsolicited advice and hideous ties. Simplify your life by befriending the enemy. Most people spend time with their mother in law as part of the couple. It's important to develop your own relationship with her. At the very least, you'll beging to understand her motivations. Maybe she'll become less of such an annoying bitch.

The Pushy Salesman - He complicates your life by trailing you around the store. Simplify your life by wearing gym shorts. In a California State University study, salespeople approached shoppers dressed in work clothes more quickly than those dressed more casually.

The Tragic Friend - He/She complicates your life by complaining incessantly about their pathetic existence. Simplify your life by telling a joke, preferably dirty. It'll stop them long enough for you to change the subject. With luck, eventually you will de-program him/her. If that doesn't work, tell him straight up: "Stop your incessant bitching or I'm going to block you. I have my own problems."

Eat... More Carnival Food!

The calories have been counted for you. Which would you choose?

You can have this...

A large soft pretzel with cheese sauce
610 calories, 15 grams fat






Or you can have this...


A hot dog on a bun with a packet of mustard, a 2-ounce serving of cotton candy and a 12-ounce draft beer 
610 calories, 15 grams fat 

Get Back In Shape: Lower Body

Days 2 and 4: Lower Body


1 - Barbell front squat

Cross your arms in front of your chest and rest a barbell on the front of your shoulders. Your elbows should be held high, with your upper arms parallel to the floor as you perform the move. Set your feet shoulder-width apart. Push your hips back, and lower your body until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor. Pause and push your body back to the starting position. Stay on your heels and make sure you don't rise onto your toes as you press back up.

2 - Straight-leg deadlift
Grab a barbell with an overhand grip that's just beyond shoulder width, and hold it at arm's length in front of your thighs. Keep your knees slightly bent. With your lower back naturally arched, bend at your hips (not your waist) and lower your torso until it's parallel to the floor. Pause, and then rise back to the starting position. As you lower the bar, keep it as close to your body as possible.

3A - Swiss-ball hip extension and leg curl
Lie on your back with your lower legs on a Swiss ball. Extend your arms to your sides, palms up. Raise your hips so your body is straight from shoulders to knees. Pull your heels in, bringing the ball toward your butt. Pause for one second, and reverse the motion. Lower your hips to the floor and repeat. As you pull your heels in, keep your hips elevated and your torso straight.

3B - Jump Squat
With your feet hip-width apart, squat until your thighs are parallel to the floor, and then jump as high as you can. Allow your knees to bend 45 degrees when you land, and then immediately drop back down into a squat, and then jump again. Perform this move as quickly as possible to build explosive strength and power.

4A - Swissball Plank

Place your forearms on a Swiss ball and raise your chest so your elbows are under your shoulders. Your legs should be extended behind you on the floor, and your body should form a straight line from ankles to head. Pull your shoulder blades back and down and brace your abs. Hold that position for 30 to 60 seconds. That's 1 set. Keeping your upper back flat maximizes the effectiveness and safety of the exercise.

4B - Swissball Jackknife 

Start in pushup position (your hands set slightly wider than and in line with your shoulders), and rest your shins on a Swiss ball. Your body should form a straight line from shoulders to ankles. Roll the Swiss ball toward your chest by raising your hips and slightly rounding your back as you pull the ball forward with your feet. Pause, and then return the ball to the starting position by rolling it backward. Don't allow your hips to sag at any point during the exercise.

Source: Men's Health

Get Back In Shape: Upper Body

Ok. Time to construct a foundation of fitness on which to build muscle and strength -- and unveil your abs.
If you want to lose your gut, don't think of lifting weights as an option; consider it a requirement. When dieters don't pump iron, 22 percent of their weight loss comes from losing muscle, according to a Penn State study. So if you drop 20 pounds without lifting, almost five of those pounds will be muscle.

Perform these workouts 4 days a week. Do the upper-body and lower-body workouts on consecutive days, rest a day, and repeat. For your first upper-body day, use the low-rep workout. For your first lower-body day, follow the high rep workout. Then switch for your second 2 days of training. That way, every other week you end up performing both high and low reps for your upper and lower body.

Low-Rep Workout
Complete 5 to 8 reps of each exercise resting 60 seconds between sets.
Upper body - Do 2 or 3 sets of each exercise
Lower body - Do 2 or 3 sets of each exercise

High-Rep Workout
Perform 12 to 15 reps in each set. For exercises 1 and 2, rest 60-90 seconds between sets. For 3A,3B,4A, and 4B, rest 30-45 seconds between sets.
Upper body - Do 2 or 3 sets of each exercise
Lower body - Do 2 sets of each exercise

Days 1 and 3: Upper Body

1A - Dumbbell bench press
On a flat bench, lie faceup holding a pair of dumbbells above your chest with your arms straight. Lower the dumbbells to the sides of your chest, and then push them back up to the starting position.

1B - Wide-grip pullup 
Grab the bar with an overhand grip that's about one and a half times shoulder width, and hang at arm's length. Pull yourself up until your upper chest hits the bar. Pause and slowly lower yourself to the starting position.

2A - Dumbbell push press
Stand holding a pair of dumbbells just outside your shoulders, your arms bent and palms facing each other. Bend your knees slightly to dip your body, and then push up with your legs as you press the dumbbells straight over your shoulders. Keep your torso upright throughout. Lower the dumbbells to the starting position, and repeat.

2B - Barbell Row
Grab a barbell with an overhand grip that's just beyond shoulder width, and hold it at arm's length. Lower your torso until it's almost parallel to the floor. Let the bar hang at arm's length. Pull the bar to your upper abs as you squeeze your shoulder blades together. Pause, and slowly lower the bar back to the starting position. That's one rep.

Source: Men's Health

The Worst Foods...Ever

Three nutritionists were asked to tell the world which foods a person should never consume. Their opinions:

MaryEllen Camire, PH.D.
 Raw Oysters - They can be contaminated with hepatitis and other nasty viruses.
Sports Drinks - They're a waste of money for most people who are not competitive athletes. The sugar content is high enough to outweigh any benefits they offer.

David Grotto, R.D.
 Pork Rinds - They do give you protein, but so would eating your own skin.
Well-Done Steak - Charred meats have chemical compounds known as HCAs (heterocyclic amines), which have been linked to cancer.


David Katz, M.D. 
 Any Processed Lunchmeat - Such as corned beef, pastrami or bologna. These deli meats are all loaded with saturated fat.
Mayonnaise - It's just a dense delivery system for calories and fat
Pop-Tarts - These toaster pastries are peddled as a quick breakfast but are loaded with sugar and fat.

Beauty Questions

Q: My cream eye shadow tends to disappear. How can I make it last?


A: Cream shadows give a sexy, dewy look, but they don't usually have the staying life of powders. An eye-shadow primer (Urban Decay and Tarte make great ones) will create a base for creams to adhere to. But if you want to avoid the extra step in your routine, some new shadows have primer built in . Cover Girl's intense Shadow Blast shades offer a subtle sheen. They go on sheer but can also be layered. BareMinerals Prime Time Primer shadows deliver loads of pigment that dry to a powdery finish so they won't flake or crease.

Source: N.Y.C. makeup artist Anthea King

Peanut Butter

Superpowers - Boosts testosterone, builds muscle, burns fat.

Secret weapons - Protein, monounsaturated fat, vitamin E, niacin, magnesium
Fights against - Obesity, muscle loss, wrinkles, cardiovascular disease
Sidekicks - Cashew and almond butters

You can eat peanut butter the au natural way, like on a sandwich. If you like thai food, you can try using it in a sauce. Microwave two tablespoons of peanut butter until soft, then mix well with 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce and some crushed red pepper flakes. Toss with whole-wheat noodles or use it as a dip for precooked chicken strips. Yum!